On the afternoon of January 15, 2004, President Hu Jintao met with foreign ministers of SCO member states and heads of the SCO's two permanent organs.

Hu extended congratulations on the official launching of the organs. He said that the SCO, with concerted efforts of all members, had improved its organizational structure and mechanism building, and shown a better image of peace, cooperation and openness in the world. The SCO has become an important force to safeguard regional peace, promote economic development and strengthen multilateral cooperation.

Hu pointed out that the SCO is entering into a new stage of all-round pragmatic cooperation. He called on all the sides to follow the consensus reached at the SCO summits, strive to bring real benefits to cooperation in anti-terrorism, security, economy and trade, promote the in-depth and pragmatic development within the organization and contribute positively to maintaining and promoting regional and world peace, stability and development.

The foreign ministers thanked Hu for the meeting. They said that the launching of the Secretariat is a milestone in the development of the organization. It is a symbol that the SCO has entered into a new stage of all-round development. The member countries have attached great importance to the active role of the SCO in the region, and will try their best to consolidate and develop the organization and strengthen its international status for the benefit of the people of the six countries.

The foreign ministers of six SCO members included Li Zhaoxing from China, Kasymzhomart Tokayev from Kazakhstan, Askar Aytmatov from Kyrgyzstan, Igor Ivanov from Russia, Talbak Nazarov from Tajikistan, and Sodik Safaev from Uzbekistan. Also at present were SCO Secretariat Secretary-General Zhang Deguang and Regional Anti-terror Center Director V. T. Casymov.

The foreign ministers held the SCO foreign ministers' non-regular meeting and the inaugural ceremony of the secretariat.