Shanghai Cooperation Organisation facts for kids
 |
|
Members Observers Dialogue partners
|
|
| Abbreviation | SCO |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Shanghai Five |
| Formation | 15 June 2001 |
| Type | Mutual security, political, and economic cooperation |
| Legal status | Regional cooperation forum |
| Headquarters | Beijing, China (Secretariat) Tashkent, Uzbekistan (RATS Executive Committee) |
|
Membership
|
Observers: Dialogue partners: Guest attendees: |
|
Official language
|
|
|
Secretary-General
|
Zhang Ming |
|
Deputy Secretaries-General
|
|
|
RATS
Executive Committee Director |
Ruslan Mirzaev |
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a big group of countries in Eurasia. It was started by China and Russia in 2001. The SCO helps its member countries work together on politics, money matters, and keeping everyone safe.
It's the world's largest group of its kind based on how much land it covers and how many people live there. The SCO includes about 80% of Eurasia and 40% of the world's population. In 2024, all its members together made up about 25% of the world's total economic output (GDP).
The SCO grew out of an older group called the Shanghai Five. This group started in 1996 with China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. In June 2001, these countries, plus Uzbekistan, decided to form the SCO for stronger cooperation. Later, India and Pakistan joined in 2017. Iran became a member in July 2023, and Belarus in July 2024. Many other countries also work with the SCO as observers or partners.
The main group that makes decisions for the SCO is called the Heads of State Council. They meet once a year. The organization also has a special part called the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
Contents
How the SCO Started
The Shanghai Five Group
The Shanghai Five group began on April 26, 1996. The leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan signed a treaty in Shanghai. This treaty was about building trust between their armies near their borders.
A year later, on April 24, 1997, the same countries signed another treaty in Moscow. This one was about reducing the number of soldiers near their borders. On May 20, 1997, the presidents of Russia and China also signed a statement about a "multipolar world." This meant they believed power in the world should be shared by many countries, not just one.
The Shanghai Five leaders met every year in different cities. At their meeting in Dushanbe in 2000, they agreed to not interfere in other countries' internal problems. They also promised to support each other in keeping their countries independent and stable. This group helped them solve border issues and deal with security threats faster.
Becoming a Bigger Organization
In 2001, the annual meeting returned to Shanghai. This time, the group became more official. They first welcomed Uzbekistan into the Shanghai Five.
On June 15, 2001, all six leaders signed the Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. They praised the Shanghai Five and wanted to work together even more closely. From 2001 to 2008, the SCO grew quickly. It set up permanent offices and started projects for economic and security matters.
In June 2002, the SCO leaders met in Saint Petersburg, Russia. They signed the SCO Charter. This document explained the group's goals, rules, and how it would work. It became official on September 19, 2003.
In July 2005, at a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, leaders from India, Iran, Mongolia, and Pakistan attended for the first time. The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said that the leaders at the table represented "half of humanity."
By 2007, the SCO had started over twenty big projects. These projects were about transportation, energy, and communication. They also held regular meetings for officials dealing with security, defense, foreign affairs, and money.
In July 2015, in Ufa, Russia, the SCO decided to let India and Pakistan become full members. They officially joined in June 2017 at a meeting in Kazakhstan.
The SCO has also built relationships with other big international groups. These include the United Nations (where it's an observer), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the African Union.
How the SCO is Organized
The Council of Heads of State is the top decision-making group in the SCO. They meet once a year in one of the member countries' capital cities. Leaders like presidents or prime ministers attend these important meetings.
As of July 4, 2023, the Council of Heads of State includes:
- Xi Jinping (China)
- Narendra Modi (India)
- Mohammad Mokhber (Iran)
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan)
- Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan)
- Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan)
- Vladimir Putin (Russia)
- Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan)
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan)
The Council of Heads of Government is the second most important council. This group also meets every year. They talk about how countries can work together and approve the SCO's budget.
As of November 1, 2022, the Council of Heads of Government includes:
- Li Qiang (China)
- Narendra Modi (India) (often sends a deputy)
- Alihan Smaiylov (Kazakhstan)
- Akylbek Japarov (Kyrgyzstan)
- Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan) (often sends a deputy)
- Mikhail Mishustin (Russia)
- Qohir Rasulzoda (Tajikistan)
- Abdulla Aripov (Uzbekistan)
The Council of Foreign Ministers also meets regularly. They discuss world events and how to work with other international groups. The Council of National Coordinators helps member states work together based on the SCO's rules.
| Years in office | Name |
|---|---|
| 15 June 2004 – 2006 |  Vyacheslav Kasymov |
| 2007–2009 |  Myrzakan Subanov |
| 2010–2012 |  Dzhenisbek Dzhumanbekov |
| 2013–2015 |  Zhang Xinfeng |
| 2016–2018 |  Yevgeniy Sysoev |
| 2019–2021 |  Jumakhon Giyosov |
| 2022–present | Ruslan Mirzaev |
| Years in office | Name |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary | |
| 15 January 2004 – 2006 | Zhang Deguang |
| Secretaries-General | |
| 2007–2009 | Bolat Nurgaliyev |
| 2010–2012 | Muratbek Imanaliyev |
| 2013–2015 | Dmitry Mezentsev |
| 2016–2018 | Rashid Alimov |
| 2019–2021 | Vladimir Norov |
| 2022–present | Zhang Ming |
The SCO has a main office called the Secretariat in Beijing, China. This office helps carry out the group's decisions and plans. It also keeps important documents and shares information about the SCO. The head of the Secretariat is called the Secretary-General, who serves for three years. Zhang Ming from China became the current Secretary-General on January 1, 2022.
The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Executive Committee is in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This is a permanent part of the SCO. It helps member countries work together to fight against terrorism and extremism. The Director of RATS also serves for three years. Ruslan Mirzaev from Uzbekistan became the current Director on January 1, 2022. Each member country also sends a representative to RATS.
The two official languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian.
Who are the SCO Members?
Current Member Countries
These countries are full members of the SCO:
| Country | Joined as Member |
|---|---|
 China |
15 June 2001 |
 Kazakhstan |
15 June 2001 |
 Kyrgyzstan |
15 June 2001 |
 Russia |
15 June 2001 |
 Tajikistan |
15 June 2001 |
 Uzbekistan |
15 June 2001 |
 India |
9 June 2017 |
 Pakistan |
9 June 2017 |
 Iran |
4 July 2023 |
 Belarus |
4 July 2024 |
Observer Countries
Observer states attend some SCO meetings but are not full members.
| Country | Status granted |
|---|---|
 Mongolia |
2004 |
Dialogue Partners
Dialogue partners are countries that work with the SCO on specific topics. This status was created in 2008.
| Country | Status granted |
|---|---|
 Sri Lanka |
6 May 2010 |
 Turkey |
26 April 2013 |
 Cambodia |
24 September 2015 |
 Azerbaijan |
14 March 2016 |
 Nepal |
22 March 2016 |
 Armenia |
16 April 2016 |
 Egypt |
14 September 2022 |
 Qatar |
14 September 2022 |
 Saudi Arabia |
14 September 2022 |
 Kuwait |
5 May 2023 |
 Maldives |
5 May 2023 |
 Myanmar |
5 May 2023 |
 United Arab Emirates |
5 May 2023 |
 Bahrain |
15 July 2023 |
Guest Attendees
Some international organizations and one country are invited to attend SCO summits as guests.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Turkmenistan
United Nations (UN)
Future Membership Possibilities
The SCO approved a way for new members to join in 2010. Turkey became a dialogue partner in 2013. The Turkish President has even talked about joining the SCO fully instead of the European Union. In 2022, Turkey's president said they would seek full SCO membership.
Vietnam and Ukraine have also shown interest in joining as observers in the past. However, Turkmenistan has said it will always be a neutral country, which means it cannot join the SCO.
What the SCO Does
Working Together on Security
The SCO mainly focuses on keeping its member countries safe. It sees terrorism, separatism (groups wanting to break away), and extremism as big threats. The organization works to stop illegal weapons trade and has lists of terrorists.
In 2004, the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) was created in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This group helps fight terrorism.
In 2007, the SCO signed an agreement with another security group, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). This agreement was to work more closely on security and crime issues.
The SCO also works against "cyberwarfare." They believe spreading harmful information to other countries should be seen as a security threat. RATS has helped stop many terror plots and has handed over many terrorists to their home countries. In 2021, RATS decided to hold a joint anti-terror exercise in Pakistan.
Military Activities
The SCO's activities have grown to include more military cooperation. This means sharing information and working together to fight terrorism. However, SCO leaders have often said that the group is not a military alliance.
The SCO has not sent military help in real conflicts. But, its members regularly hold military exercises. These exercises help them work together better against terrorism and other threats. The first joint military exercise was in 2003. China and Russia have also teamed up for big war games called "Peace Mission."
During the 2007 war games in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian strategic bombers would start regular long-range patrols again. This was the first time since the Cold War.
In 2014, there was an idea to combine the SCO with the Collective Security Treaty Organization. However, after Russia's actions in Ukraine in 2022, many SCO members have been less interested in military cooperation with Russia.
Economic Cooperation
In September 2003, SCO member countries signed an agreement to boost economic cooperation. China's Premier, Wen Jiabao, suggested creating a free trade area within the SCO. This would make it easier for goods to move between countries. A plan with 100 specific actions was signed a year later.
In October 2005, the SCO said it would focus on joint energy projects. This includes oil, gas, and using water resources together. They also agreed to create the SCO Interbank Consortium. This group would help fund future joint projects.
In 2009, China offered a $10 billion loan to other SCO members. This was to help their economies during a global financial crisis.
In 2014, the Eurasian Economic Union was formed. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are members of both the SCO and this union.
In 2019, Pakistan's Prime Minister suggested that SCO countries trade using their own currencies instead of US dollars. He also proposed setting up an SCO bank. In 2022, Iran suggested creating a single SCO currency for trade.
The SCO also has a successful student exchange program called the SCO University. This helps students from member countries study in other SCO nations.
Cultural Cooperation
The culture ministers of the SCO countries met for the first time in 2002. They agreed to continue working together on cultural projects.
An SCO Arts Festival and Exhibition was held in 2005. Kazakhstan also suggested an SCO folk dance festival for 2008.
SCO+ Forum
The "SCO+" forum was started in 2020. This is a way for political parties from SCO countries, observers, and partners to interact. It also includes countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and BRICS groups.
The first SCO+ forum was held in October 2020. Speakers from 25 countries attended, including high-ranking officials and ambassadors.
SCO Meetings and Summits
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
The SCO Charter says that the Council of Heads of State must meet every year. These meetings happen in different member countries, following the alphabetical order of their names in Russian. The Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) also meets once a year. The Council of Foreign Ministers usually meets one month before the main Heads of State summit. Special meetings of the Foreign Ministers can be called if two member states agree.
List of Heads of State Summits
| Date | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14–15 June 2001 | China |
Shanghai |
| 7 June 2002 | Russia |
Saint Petersburg |
| 29 May 2003 | Russia |
Moscow |
| 17 June 2004 | Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
| 5 July 2005 | Kazakhstan |
Astana |
| 15 June 2006 | China |
Shanghai |
| 16 August 2007 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 28 August 2008 | Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
| 15–16 June 2009 | Russia |
Yekaterinburg |
| 10–11 June 2010 | Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
| 14–15 June 2011 | Kazakhstan |
Astana |
| 6–7 June 2012 | China |
Beijing |
| 13 September 2013 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 11–12 September 2014 | Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
| 9–10 July 2015 | Russia |
Ufa |
| 23–24 June 2016 | Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
| 8–9 June 2017 | Kazakhstan |
Astana |
| 9–10 June 2018 | China |
Qingdao |
| 14–15 June 2019 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 10 November 2020 | Russia |
videoconference |
| 16–17 September 2021 | Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
| 15–16 September 2022 | Uzbekistan |
Samarkand |
| 4 July 2023 | India |
videoconference |
| 3–4 July 2024 | Kazakhstan |
Astana |
| 2025 | China |
TBA |
List of Heads of Government Summits
| Date | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2001 | Kazakhstan |
Almaty |
| — | — | — |
| 23 September 2003 | China |
Beijing |
| 23 September 2004 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 26 October 2005 | Russia |
Moscow |
| 15 September 2006 | Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
| 2 November 2007 | Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
| 30 October 2008 | Kazakhstan |
Astana |
| 14 October 2009 | China |
Beijing |
| 25 November 2010 | Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
| 7 November 2011 | Russia |
Saint Petersburg |
| 5 December 2012 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 29 November 2013 | Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
| 14–15 December 2014 | Kazakhstan |
Astana |
| 14–15 December 2015 | China |
Zhengzhou |
| 2–3 November 2016 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 30 November 2017 | Russia |
Sochi |
| 11–12 October 2018 | Tajikistan |
Dushanbe |
| 1–2 November 2019 | Uzbekistan |
Tashkent |
| 30 November 2020 | India |
videoconference |
| 25 November 2021 | Kazakhstan |
videoconference |
| 1 November 2022 | China |
videoconference |
| 26 Oсtober 2023 | Kyrgyzstan |
Bishkek |
| 15-16 October 2024 | Pakistan |
Islamabad |
Images for kids
_(cropped)_3.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Organización de Cooperación de Shanghái para niños
- Asia Cooperation Dialogue
- Asia–Europe Meeting
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- Belt and Road Initiative
- Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
- BRICS
- China–Russia relations
- Collective Security Treaty Organization
- Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia
- Continental union
- Eurasian Economic Union
- Eurasianism
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
