Russia hosts Shanghai group, BRIC summits

The summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will continue in Russia`s Urals on Tuesday, to be followed by the first meeting of BRIC leaders.

Russia, China and four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics are meeting for the second day of the SCO summit, and will later be joined by the leaders of observer nations Iran, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The security alliance, seen as a counterbalance to U.S. interests in Central Asia, has increasingly been engaged in joint economic projects.

Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said on Tuesday that the SCO leaders would pass a series of agreements, including a declaration to overview the global security situation and highlight the trend toward a "multi-polar world" and a greater role for SCO nations in addressing international issues.

The group`s meetings will be followed later in the day by a summit of the world`s largest emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India and China. They are expected to focus on steps to tackle the global economic crisis, improve the financial system, and on food and energy security.

sections: World News