SCO chief: Belarus formally applies for membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Belarus has formally applied to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member, SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming said at a briefing, TASS reports.

In his words, official membership procedures are to begin soon.

Belarus has an observer status in the SCO, which allows the country to take part in meetings of the SCO Heads of Government Council and ministerial  meetings on foreign economic and trade affairs.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established in June 2001 in Shanghai. Its current members are India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.