15 Jul 2022 11:14

SCO confirms Belarus' application for admission as member state

MINSK. July 15 (Interfax) - Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary General Zhang Ming has confirmed Belarus's application for the admission to the organization.

"The Republic of Belarus has applied to join the SCO as a member state," the SCO press service quoted Zhang as saying on Friday.

Meanwhile, the formalization of Iran as a SCO member state is nearing completion, he said.

Earlier this week, Bakhtiyor Khakimov, Russia's special presidential representative in the SCO, said that Belarus has drafted an application to join the SCO.

Belarus currently holds observer status in the SCO.

Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization consists of India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Belarus are observer states, and Sri Lanka, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and Nepal are partners.