Putin, Lukashenko discuss SCO summit on granting member status to Belarus

MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko have noted the substantial impetus given to further developing the multifaceted bilateral relations of strategic partnership and alliance by their recent summit, the Kremlin press service said on Friday.

Putin thanked Lukashenko once again for the warm welcome and hospitality during his visit to Minsk on May 24, the press service said.

"They discussed certain issues in the context of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit due in July, where Belarus's status as an SCO member is expected to be approved," it said.

The sides agreed to continue contacts at various levels.