INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
obligations to be signed at a meeting in Samarkand on September 15-16, according to Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister, Vladimir
Norov.According to RIA Novosti, Norov stated on July 11 at a panel meeting in Moscow that "this year, under Uzbekistan's chairmanship, Iran
will become a full-fledged member of the SCO as an observer state.""In addition, in Samarkand, a memorandum on Iran's obligations as an SCO
member will be signed," Norov continued.The SCO was formed in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan,
and Uzbekistan at a summit in Shanghai
The Shanghai Five mechanism came before it.China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are the
current full members of the SCO.Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia are also observer countries.Iran moved one step closer to becoming
a full member of the SCO with the approval of its candidacy on September 17, last year, 15 years after it originally applied
The SCO initiated the proceedings for Iran's entrance to the organization on September 17, 2021, which are expected to take "a reasonable
amount of time."Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey are among the SCO's dialogue partners
border conflicts, terrorism, and militant Islam, to include economy and trade, transportation, and law enforcement
Security and economic cooperation continue to be top goals
China and Russia are the two most powerful members
Russia considers Central Asia to be its area of influence, but China's economic might is expanding
