24 Jun 2016 16:52

SCO to gain higher weight after India, Pakistan join SCO - Putin

TASHKENT. June 24 (Interfax) - The accession of India and Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will bring a higher weight to this organization, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"With their accession the organization will certainly acquire another aura, another weight. This is almost half of the world's population, nearly 45%," he told reporters following the SCO summit in Tashkent.

Pure formalities are yet to be settled for India and Pakistan to join the SCO, Putin said.

"It is possible to believe that they will already be fully-fledged members of this organization beginning next year," the Russian president said.