DUSHANBE, 17.02.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – The issue of expanding the SCO is not on the Organization’s agenda. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin at a press conference on February 15.

According to him, the issue of admitting new countries to the organization takes 6-7 years, as was the case with Pakistan and India.

Muhriddin also said that this year marks SCO’s 20th anniversary and the issue of holding more than 86 events on this occasion is being considered. Most of the events will take place in Tajikistan.

He noted that it is not yet known how the events will be held, whether with the presence of country delegations or by videoconference. It all depends on the epidemiological situation and the countries themselves can choose the format of their participation.

“Tajikistan hopes that the SCO Heads of State Summit will be held in Dushanbe with the participation of delegations,” Muhriddin emphasized.

The SCO was established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai by Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Prior to this, all of these countries, with the exception of Uzbekistan, were members of the Shanghai Five.

On June 8-9, 2017, the SCO Heads of State Summit was held in Astana, during which India and Pakistan received the status as member states.

Four countries, including Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have the status of SCO observer states.