Belarus may join Shanghai Cooperation Organization before summit – minister

July 4, BPN. Belarus may join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) before its next summit in Astana in July 2024, a Telegram channel close to the head of state reports, quoting the foreign minister.

All SCO member countries have signed a memorandum on Belarus’ commitments and the next step is ratification, Belarus’ top diplomat Siarhiej Alejnik told reporters after the virtual meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the council that Belarus was close to accession, and also talked about his country’s new draft strategy for the SCO, according to Kazinform. It would expand the organization’s agenda “in the most promising areas of cooperation,” he said.

Established in 2001, the SCO comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Belarus has been the SCO’s partner since 2010 and observer since 2015. Minsk applied for SCO membership in July 2022.