Shanghai Cooperation Organisation & India

  • Recently, India for the first time hosted the heads of governments (HoG) meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
  • This was three years after India joined the eight-nation group in 2015. 
  • The focus of this virtual conference was in developing a plan to overcome the socio-economic consequences of Covid-19 in the region. 

SHANGHAI FIVE GROUP 

  • The Shanghai Five consisted of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
  • It was established in 1996.
  • It had emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China. 
  • Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organisation in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.

SCO 

  • Formed : 2001.
  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Charter, formally establishing the organisation, was signed in June 2002.
  • It entered into force on 19 September 2003.  
  • Headquarters : Bejing, China.
  • Members : 8 (India joined in 2017 along with Pakistan at a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan). 

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