Kazakhstan hosting meeting of defence ministers of SCO member states

Another meeting of the defence ministers of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which is held within Kazakhstan's chairmanship, is being held in Astana.

The heads of the delegations of the defence ministries from India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, invited as an honorary guest, attended the event, the Kazakh Defence Ministry said, Caliber.Az reports citing the Kazakh media.

The secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure were also invited to the meeting.

For the first time, Iran acts as a full member of the Organisation. Belarus is also expected to join this year.