Member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will continue talks about collaboration on energy issues, said SCO Executive Secretary Bolat Nurgaliev Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, on Friday.

"Energy cooperation programs among SCO member countries are still in the starting phase and there are no concrete plans that are acceptable to all members," said Nurgaliev.

"But all parties involved are making progress in negotiations to make their stance closer. I believe an agreement will be made during next year's meeting of energy ministers," he said.

At the second Euro-Asia Economic Forum closed on Friday in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, participants discussed cooperation and development in the fields of energy, tourism, education, and finance.

Nurgaliev said at a roundtable meeting that forging an energy club among SCO countries will balance the interests of energy producing countries, energy consuming countries and energy transmitting countries.

Participants also discussed the proposal of setting up a unified power grid among SCO member countries.

"A unified power grid will balance electric power supply in the region and is good for all the member countries," Nurgaliev said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)