Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Why in news?

• India hosted the 23rd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in the virtual format. This is the first time India is hosting the summit.

What are the key takeaways from the 23rd SCO Summit?

• Iran as new member: SCO has decided to induct Iran as its ninth member.
• New Delhi Declaration: One of the major outcomes of the SCO summit was the New Delhi Declaration.
  • The name of the declaration was coined by the Indian government.
  • The declaration proposes five joint statements namely: fight against terrorism, de-radicalisation, sustainable lifestyle to tackle climate change, production of millets and digital transformation.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), or Shanghai Pact, is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.
• Currently the SCO comprises of Nine member states:
  • India, Pakistan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.
• Four observer states, namely Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia.
• Six dialogue partners, namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka.
• India and Pakistan joined the SCO in 2017.
• In the 2021 SCO summit in Dushanbe, the members of SCO agreed to admit Iran as a member while Belarus has also begun the membership process.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following countries are members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?

1. India

2. Pakistan

3. China

4. Russia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer