Islamabad, October 16, 2024 – The Europe Today: Belarus has officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full member, marking a significant milestone for the country, Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko announced during the SCO Heads of Government Council meeting. This meeting, held under the chairmanship of Pakistan, represents Belarus’ first participation as a full member of the international organization, after its successful bid earlier this year.
“This meeting is special for Belarus. This is the first time we are participating in the SCO Heads of Government Council event as a full member of the organization. We sincerely thank each of the countries for supporting our bid to join the SCO,” Prime Minister Golovchenko said. He highlighted that Belarus’ decision to seek full membership was a “conscious choice” and emphasized the organization’s commitment to mutual trust, cultural diversity, and joint development.
The Prime Minister further expressed Belarus’ readiness to contribute actively across all areas of SCO activity, stating, “As the president of Belarus said at the Astana summit in July this year, we will become an active player in the Shanghai team. We will work hard to promote and strengthen this international platform.”
During his address, Golovchenko also extended congratulations to Pakistan on its first chairmanship of the SCO Heads of Government Council and praised the country for successfully hosting the high-level meeting.
Belarus has been engaged with the SCO since 2010 as a dialogue partner and later as an observer from 2015. In July 2024, the country achieved full membership status. The SCO, which was established in 2001, originally began as the “Shanghai Five” comprising Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Its primary objectives include enhancing security cooperation and fostering economic and trade relations among its diverse members.
The organization operates based on the “Shanghai spirit,” which emphasizes mutual trust, equality, respect for cultural diversity, and joint development. The SCO Charter, the founding document of the organization, was signed in 2002, outlining the framework for collaboration among member states with varying political systems and values.
With its full membership, Belarus is poised to further deepen its engagement in the activities of the SCO, contributing to the organization’s goals of fostering a favorable international environment.
