Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Context

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting which was held in Islamabad.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• Formed: June 15, 2001 (Successor to Shanghai Five group)
• Founding Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
• SCO Countries:
  • 9 Member States: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
  • 3 Observer states: Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia. 
    • In 2022, at the Samarkand SCO Summit, the process of raising the status of the Republic of Belarus within the Organization to the level of a member state has begun.
  • 14 Dialogue Partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Sri Lanka. 
• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• Official Languages: Russian, Chinese
• Goals:
  • Strengthen regional security and good neighbourliness
  • Promote economic cooperation among members
  • Foster cultural and educational exchange
  • Create a stable and peaceful region
• Decision-Making:
  • Council of Heads of States (CHS): Meets annually, decides on major issues
  • Council of Heads of Government (CHG): Meets annually, sets economic strategy
• Other Mechanisms:
  • Regular meetings on various topics (foreign affairs, defence, culture, etc.)
  • Council of National Coordinators – Coordination body.

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