In News: Iran and Belarus are likely to be the two newest additions to the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping.
The current SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, a Chinese diplomat, told the grouping hopes for an in-person summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Expanding the group is among the issues that leaders of the grouping are likely to discuss at the SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
It was created in 2001.
The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.
The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders.
Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
India and Pakistan became members in 2017.
On 17th September, 2021, it was announced that Iran would become a full member of the SCO.
Objectives:
Strengthening mutual trust and neighborliness among the member states
Promoting effective cooperation in -politics, trade & economy, research & technology and culture.
Enhancing ties in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, etc.
Maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region.
Establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political & economic order
Structure:
Heads of State Council – The supreme SCO body which decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States & international organisations, and considers international issues.
Heads of Government Council – Approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs – Considers issues related to day-to-day activities.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) – Established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
