SHENZHEN - Attendees to the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) political parties forum have agreed on more exchanges and cooperation to promote regional development and peace.

The forum, held in Shenzhen on Saturday, invited around 200 representatives of more than 30 political parties from 18 SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners.

"Political parties are the most active forces in political life. When we get together under the framework of SCO to hold political parties dialogue, we could exchange experience of managing parties or countries, which could open a new chapter of SCO cooperation," said Sergey Zheleznyak, deputy secretary of the General Council of the United Russia Party, at a news briefing after the forum.

Representatives agreed that they will advocate the Shanghai Spirit of "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development," and work to inject new impetus to the common prosperity of the region.

Created in 2001, the SCO has not only focused on regional peace, security and stability, but also devoted itself to regional development by facilitating trade and investment, enhancing industrial cooperation, and promoting people-to-people exchanges.