Online summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization kicks off in New Delhi

The summit of heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has opened in New Delhi. It will take place in virtual mode.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, according to Kommersant.

Iran is expected to be admitted to the SCO following the results of the virtual meeting. Also, the member states of the organization during the summit will formalize a memorandum of intent for Belarus to join the organization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to speak in the open part of the meeting.

The meeting is also attended by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Presidents of Belarus, Iran and Mongolia Alexander Lukashenko, Ebrahim Raisi and Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh have been invited as heads of SCO observer states.

Currently, the SCO includes eight countries - Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.