Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Everything you need to know

India became a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the year 2017. Since 2005, it was an observer of the organization.

In the month of November 2020, India is going to host a summit of the council of heads of government of SCO.

In view of the development, it is necessary to understand the timeline related to the organization.

History of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

1. On 26^th April 1996, the Shanghai Five Group was formed. The members were the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan.
2. After the admission of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was announced.
3. In 2002, heads of States signed the SCO charter.
4. India was granted Observer Status in 2005.
5. In the year 2015, SCO decided to grant full membership status to India and Pakistan.
6. Finally, India along with Pakistan becomes a member of the organization in 2017.
7. Currently, the organization represents 42 percent of the global population.

Members of SCO

Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are as follows

1. India
2. China
3. Pakistan
4. Russia
5. Kazakhstan
6. Kyrgyzstan
7. Tajikistan and
8. Uzbekistan

Apart from members, the organization has observers and dialogue partners. Observers are Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners. 

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Significance of SCO from India’s perspective

India’s immediate neighbours are China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Extended neighbours of the country are Central Asian countries, Gulf countries, East African countries and South East Asian countries.

In order to ensure Energy Security, India is willing to have strong ties with Central Asian as these countries are rich in Uranium, oil and gas.

India also has Connect Central Asia policy.

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SCO is important from India’s perspective due to various reasons. One of them is that Central Asian countries are also members of the organization.