Researchers: SCO Qingdao summit highlighted by membership expansion
China Watch |
Updated: 2018-06-06 15:17
Experts said that upcoming 18th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, will be highlighted by the participation of new members after expansion last year.
"The participation of new members will be a highlight of this year's summit," Sheng Shiliang, researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, told Xinhua.
Along with larger territorial coverage, population, and economic strength after the expansion, the SCO will also gain stronger influence and a greater say in the world, Sheng said.
Scheduled for June 9-10, it will be the first SCO summit after India and Pakistan were accepted as full members in June 2017 at the Astana summit in Kazakhstan.
After the expansion, the eight full members of the SCO are China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO also has four observer states and six dialogue partners.
With the growth of the organization, there will be more opportunities for pragmatic cooperation between the member countries, said Li Yongquan, head of the China Society for Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies.
"The issue of how to turn the potential originating from the expansion into reality and give better play to the SCO's functions and influence will become an important topic of this summit," Li told Xinhua.
Experts said that upcoming 18th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, will be highlighted by the participation of new members after expansion last year.
"The participation of new members will be a highlight of this year's summit," Sheng Shiliang, researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, told Xinhua.
Along with larger territorial coverage, population, and economic strength after the expansion, the SCO will also gain stronger influence and a greater say in the world, Sheng said.
Scheduled for June 9-10, it will be the first SCO summit after India and Pakistan were accepted as full members in June 2017 at the Astana summit in Kazakhstan.
After the expansion, the eight full members of the SCO are China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO also has four observer states and six dialogue partners.
With the growth of the organization, there will be more opportunities for pragmatic cooperation between the member countries, said Li Yongquan, head of the China Society for Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies.
"The issue of how to turn the potential originating from the expansion into reality and give better play to the SCO's functions and influence will become an important topic of this summit," Li told Xinhua.
