Dushanbe, 24.03.2016 (NIAT “Khovar”). — Nepal has officially become a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) dialogue partner after a memorandum was signed Tuesday.

The memorandum was signed by SCO secretary-general Rashid Olimov and Nepalese Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. Nepalese Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli attended the signing ceremony.

The SCO was established in 2001 to promote cooperation on security-related issues and strengthen mutual trust, friendliness and neighborliness among the member states, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa said at the ceremony.

He said that Nepal would «adhere to the principles, values and objectives» of the vibrant regional organization, and participate actively in its future activities and progress.

As a dialogue partner, Nepal is able to participate in the multi-field cooperation of the SCO, which has an increasing presence in international affairs, Olimov said.

As Nepal joins the SCO, it will create new opportunities for the SCO’s mutually beneficial cooperation and benefit people living in the extensive region that the SCO covers, Olimov added.

Last Monday, Azerbaijan officially became a SCO dialogue partner upon the signing of a similar memorandum.

The SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.