The issue of admitting Russia's “brother” to the SCO is being considered

The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are actively studying the application of Belarus to join the organization in full.  On 29 July, the (acting) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov said this at the council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO.

"The parties are actively studying the application of the Republic of Belarus for full membership in the organization.  There is a common understanding that the expansion will provide a significant boost to multifaceted mutual cooperation on ensuring regional security, development of trade and investment cooperation, and will serve to develop a huge transit potential in the territory of our organization," - said Norov.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan expressed his opinion on the admission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the SCO.

"Uzbekistan sees this as a natural process that indicates the evolution of our organization.  I would like to note the success achieved in the path of the Islamic Republic of Iran becoming a full-fledged member," - the diplomat said.

It should be noted that Norov stated that the establishment of long-awaited peace and stability in Afghanistan is considered a strategic condition for ensuring security and stable development in the SCO space.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent regional international association established on 15 June 2001, in Shanghai.  Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are members of SCO.  This year, the chairmanship of the organization was transferred to Uzbekistan.