SHANGHAi -- The Chinese government attaches great importance to judicial cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework and will work with other SCO members to enhance it, said President Hu Jintao.

"We will work with governments of SCO countries to improve judicial cooperation mechanisms and boost cooperation in accordance with the 'Shanghai Spirit', the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other relevant legal documents," Hu said in a congratulatory letter sent to the first SCO supreme court presidents conference, which opened Thursday morning in Shanghai.

Luo Gan, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and about 50 presidents of supreme courts and judges from the six SCO member countries attended the opening ceremony.

Hu said judicial cooperation is an important part of SCO work. Exchanges and cooperation among the supreme courts of SCO members are essential to the fight against cross-border crime and the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, and the promotion of peace and development in the region.

The SCO acts in accordance with the "Shanghai Spirit" that values mutual trust, equality, consultation, respect for different cultures and common development, he said.

"Member countries have deepened and broadened pragmatic cooperation in political, security, economic and cultural fields and the SCO has projected an image of peace, cooperation and openness to the international community," Hu said.

Luo Gan said the conference is an important step in boosting cooperation between SCO member countries.

Xiao Yang, president of China's Supreme People's Court, called for measures at regional, bilateral and national levels to prevent and check the "three evil forces", cross-border drug trafficking and related crimes in order to advance the cause of peace, consultation, openness, prosperity and harmony in the region.

According to China's Supreme People's Court, which organized the conference, a major topic is the establishment of a cooperation mechanism to deal with cross-border crime and strengthen judicial cooperation in the fight against the "three evil forces".

The presidents of the supreme courts will discuss the judicial role in boosting social development, guaranteeing justice, improving judicial efficiency and enhancing the cooperation mechanism among the courts of SCO member countries.

The conference will issue a joint statement.

Founded in June 2001, the SCO comprises China, Russia and the four central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. SCO member countries cooperate in the security, economic, trade, cultural, military and judicial fields.

Since the September 11 incident in the United States, SCO member countries have strengthened anti-terrorism cooperation and cracked down on the "three evil forces" in the region.