Explanation

T here are 10 member countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus. Belarus is the newest member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization joined on 4 July 2024. There are 2 Observer states of SCO: Mongolia, Afghanistan. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic and security organization. In terms of geographic scope and population, it is the world’s largest regional organization, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world population, and more than 30% of global GDP. The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. On 15 June 2001, the leaders of these nations and Uzbekistan met in Shanghai to announce a new organization with deeper political and economic cooperation; the SCO Charter was signed on 7 July 2002 and entered into force on 19 September 2003. Its membership has since expanded to nine states, with India and Pakistan joining on 9 June 2017. Several countries are engaged as observers or dialogue partners.