"The SCO member-countries welcome the launch of Russian-US talks to draft a strategic offensive arms reduction treaty," the regional group’s declaration read.

The Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (START I) expires on 5 December. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama agreed during their London meeting in early April on an immediate start to talks on a new strategic arms reduction treaty, and discussions are already underway.

Moscow expects Washington to agree on a deal that would restrict not only the numbers of nuclear warheads, but also place limits on all existing kinds of delivery vehicles.

The declaration also described as irreversible the advance toward a multi-polar world and called for putting more emphasis on regional approaches to addressing global tasks. The SCO leaders also urged the United Nations to improve its coordinating role in global affairs.

The SCO member-countries voiced their support for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and proposed boosting cooperation in international financial controls and management as well as economic stability.

International cooperation was recognized as the sole instrument for resolving issues facing the global community, including energy and food security, climate change and the global recession.

The SCO comprises Russia, China and four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.