CIS explores granting observer status to Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The issue of granting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) observer status within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is currently under consideration, CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev announced on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum of CIS member states.

According to Lebedev, SCO countries have expressed a strong commitment to deepening cooperation with the CIS, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

He noted that granting observer status would further strengthen the relationship between the two organizations. His remarks were cited by the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a regional bloc that includes 10 member states: Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, the SCO maintains ties with two observer states—Afghanistan and Mongolia—as well as 14 dialogue partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Sri Lanka.

By Khagan Isayev