Belarus' evolution as SCO member noted

BEIJING (BelTA) – Belarus is the first country in the history of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to make the transition from the dialogue partner to the observer. Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Rashid Alimov made the relevant statement during the meeting with mass media of the SCO member states in the SCO HQ in Beijing, China prior to the Tashkent summit and the 15th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BelTA has learned.

The SCO Secretary General also said that the summit to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan will be the first summit, during which Belarus will act as an observer country. In his opinion, Belarus did outstandingly well as a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"Every SCO summit is an extremely important event in the organization's life," pointed out Rashid Alimov. "There is no doubt that the anniversary summit will make its own special contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world, to ensuring sustainable economic development, cultural and humanitarian ties in the vast space of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."