10 June 2017

News Story: Accession of India, Pakistan carries historic significance -- SCO leaders

ASTANA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) carries historic significance as India and Pakistan become full members of the bloc, SCO leaders said Friday.

Granting India and Pakistan membership at the SCO summit will boost the organization's development and potential, according to a joint press communique released after the summit in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

Founded in 2001, the SCO now has China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan as its full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia as observers, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey as dialogue partners.

The heads of state support the SCO to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with its observers and dialogue partners, the communique said.

Read the full story at Xinhua