DUSHANBE
, April 13, Asia-Plus – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will likely consider admitting new members during its summit in June, the organization”s executive secretary said Thursday.
Zhang Deguang said the summit, which starts June 15, would consider applications for full membership from countries that currently hold observer status in the organization.
The SCO is a regional security forum founded in
Shanghai
in July 2001 by the leaders of
Kazakhstan
,
Kyrgyzstan
,
Tajikistan
,
Uzbekistan
,
Russia
and
China
.
India
,
Pakistan
, and
Iran
joined the organization as observers in 2005, following
Mongolia
”s accession also as an observer the previous year.
Zhang said SCO defense ministers would meet in
Beijing
at the end of April to discuss future joint military exercises. He added that there were no plans to form a military bloc based on the organization.
“I am sure that a military bloc will not be formed,” he said.
