Putin, Jiang open 'Shanghai Five' summit

Putin and Jiang are allied in their opposition to U.S. President George W. Bush's national missile defense system

By staff and wire reports

SHANGHAI, China -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Shanghai Thursday, opening a two-day conference of the so-called 'Shanghai Five' group.

However, contrary to expectations, officials say the two did not discuss their shared opposition to the controversial U.S. missile defense shield in their face-to-face meeting, but instead focused on other issues of regional security, particularly terrorism.

Both nations have expressed their opposition to the planned shield, which U.S. President George W. Bush says would be designed to defend against small numbers of missiles from "rogue" states such as North Korea.

The meeting of the two leaders kicked off the summit of the "Shanghai Five" --the group which brings together China, Russia and the former Soviet states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan whose presidents are also in Shanghai.

New member

The president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, is also attending the summit as his country transfers from observer status within the group to full formal membership as the sixth member-state.

Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous state and has been battling a growing Islamic separatist movement.

Its acession as the sixth member of the Central Asian group means it will now change its name to become the 'Shanghai Forum'.

Putin, with his wife Lyudmila, are due to meet President Bush for the first time on Saturday in Slovenia

But despite the change of name the agenda for this year's conference is once again expected to focus on the growing Islamic separatist movement in Central Asia, as well as planned joint military exercises between member states.

Defense and security officials are also developing joint efforts to combat the thriving drug trade in Central Asia.

Several nations in Central Asia, including China, are to varying degrees grappling with separatist or rebel groups, many of which draw inspiration and material assistance from the Taliban, Afghanistan's extremist Islamic rulers.

China is rapidly expanding its economic focus on the under-developed western region, where Chinese Muslims have staged several small-scale uprisings.

Beijing is looking to exploit Central Asian oil reserves to help power its growing economy, the world's second largest, as it negotiates for entry into the World Trade Organization.

Missile shield

Russia and China are bonded by shared opposition to U.S. plans to build a missile defense system.

Both countries have also expressed there unease over what they regard as U.S. dominance of global affairs.

The U.S. recently sent envoys to key nations in the Asia-Pacific, including China, to discuss the missile defense system, but the proposal has received a cool response.

Only Australia has openly backed research into the missile system, while Japan has urged caution.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.