Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

About SCO

  • Eurasian political, economic, international security and defence organization established by China and Russia in 2001.
  • SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
  • As August 2024, it has 10 members.
    • In June 2017, it expanded to eight states, with India and Pakistan.
  • Iran joined the group in July 2023.
  • Several countries are engaged as observers or dialogue partners.

Structure of SCO

As of the 4 July 2023 meeting, the Council of Heads of State consists of:

  • Xi Jinping (China)
  • Narendra Modi (India)
  • Mohammad Mokhber (Iran)
  • Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan)
  • Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan)
  • Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan)
  • Vladimir Putin (Russia)
  • Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan)
  • Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan)

Members

CountryAccession startedMember since
China=>15 June 2001
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Russia
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
India10 June 20159 June 2017
Pakistan
Iran17 September 20214 July 2023
Acceding members
Belarus16 September 20228th August, 2024

Observer States

CountryStatus Granted
Mongolia2004
Afghanistan2012

Summits

2023

  • On 4th July, 2023, India hosted virtual conference of SCO summit.

2024

  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reached Astana in Kazakhstan to lead the Indian delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of State in place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 3 and 4.
  • Given that the next SCO Heads of Government meet is due to be held in Pakistan later this year, and the next SCO Summit will be hosted by China in 2025.
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