Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters the defense ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would meet on Wednesday.

"During the meeting, the defense ministers from the various countries will exchange views on regional security and how to fight the three forces -- (terrorism, religious extremism and separatism)," Qin said.

He added that Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan would chair the meeting.

The defense ministers from the other countries, including Russia's Sergei Ivanov, began arriving in Beijing Tuesday.

The regional organization groups China and Russia with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 1996 as a vehicle for inter-governmental cooperation in central Asia and originally was made up of five nations.

Uzbekistan was admitted as a sixth member in 2001. Iran, India and Pakistan have been granted observer status.

Some observers believe the organization is meant to serve as a counterbalance to the United States, which has extended its military influence in the region with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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