Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
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The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, international security and defence organisation established by China and Russia in 2001. The SCO is the world's largest regional organisation in terms of geographic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world population. Its combined GDP is around 20% of global GDP.
Background
The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, and Tajikistan. On 15 June 2001, the leaders of these nations and Uzbekistan met in Shanghai to announce a new organisation with deeper political and economic cooperation; the SCO Charter was signed on 7 July 2002 and entered into force on 19 September 2003. Its membership has since expanded to eight states, with India and Pakistan joining on 9 June 2017. Iran officially joins the group in 2023. Several countries are engaged as observers or dialogue partners.
Meetings
The SCO is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year. The organisation also contains the so-called Regional Antiterrorist Structure (RATS).[1]
Virtual in 2023
On 31 May 2023, India announced that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit would be held via video conference on 4 July 2023.
The move to hold the SCO meeting virtually was unexpected and the Indian government did not cite any reason for it, which led to speculations and conflicting opinions.
Had the leaders of member countries been invited in person, it would have been Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to India after the breakout of the Russia-Ukraine War.[2]
References
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