SCO summit ends with adoption of documents, including on organisation’s expansion

The summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ended in Russia’s Ufa on Friday with adoption of documents aimed at expanding the six-member organization.

The leaders of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed the documents after the discussion.

In particular, a decision was inked on launching the procedure of accession of India and Pakistan to the organization. The two countries submitted applications for the full membership in September 2014.

The leaders have also adopted a decision on granting Belarus an observer status. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal have received a status of dialogue partners.

The sides also signed the Ufa declaration and the Strategy of the SCO development up to 2025. Besides, they approved a program of cooperation of member-states in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism in the next three years (2016-2018).
The leaders also approved a report of the SCO Secretary-General on its activity over the past year and a report of the council of regional anti-terrorist body of the SCO on its activity in 2014.

The decisions of the Council of heads of the SCO member-states on the secretary-general and on director of the executive committee of the regional anti-terrorist body of SCO were also endorsed.

The parties have also agreed to work out a draft convention on cooperation in the fight against extremism.

The next SCO summit is scheduled be held in September 2016 in Uzbekistan.