Pakistan has said it appreciated China's support for the country's quest to become member of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) as the group has agreed to expand its membership. Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said his country welcomed and supported India and Pakistan to become new formal members of the SCO at the earliest possible date. The agreement on new members came in a legal document passed at the 14th SCO summit, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, last Friday.
"The Government of Pakistan welcomes and appreciates China's expression of support for Pakistan's application for full membership of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO)," the Foreign Ministry said. "China's recognition of the "great influence" of Pakistan in the region is testament to our contribution to the SCO in our capacity as an Observer State since 2005," a Foreign Ministry statement said. The SCO is a six-member regional organisation comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, that focuses on mutual economic and security co-operation.
Pakistan was one of the first countries to apply for full membership of the SCO. Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who headed Pakistan's delegation to the SCO summit in Dushanbe, had highlighted the constructive role that Pakistan could play in this important regional organisation as a full member.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said China believed the move would promote the organisation's further development and strengthen its efforts to safeguard regional security and boost development for the benefit of the people of the region. The SCO currently groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observers, and Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.
Hong said China was ready to maintain close communications with other SCO members on the issue of further expansion of SCO membership. India and Pakistan have actively participated in co-operation under the SCO framework and made positive contributions to the organisation's development, according to the spokesman.