China expects the new Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will contribute to further security cooperation in the organization, senior security official Meng Jianzhu said on Wednesday.

Tajik diplomat Rashid Olimov became SCO Secretary-General on Jan. 1,replacing Dmitry Mezentsev. Olimov served as ambassador to China from 2005 to 2015.

Meng, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, welcomed Olimov to his new post.

"China is willing to work with other SCO members to effectively maintain regional security and stability to give strong support to their economic and social development," Meng told Olimov.

Thanking China for its support for himself and that given to the SCO secretariat, Olimov said he is ready to promote cooperation in various areas within the SCO, particularly in security.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It also includes Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers.