Why in News?
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Moscow, calling for global “zero tolerance” toward terrorism. He also met President Vladimir Putin ahead of the upcoming India–Russia annual summit expected in early December 2025.
Description:
- A permanent intergovernmental regional organisation.
- Founded on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
- Evolved from Shanghai Five (1996).
- Focus: Security, counterterrorism, political stability, economic & cultural cooperation.
Headquarters & Bodies:
- Secretariat: Beijing, China.
- RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure): Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Official Languages: Chinese & Russian.
SCO Members (as of 2025 – 10 Members): China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India (2017), Pakistan (2017), Iran (2023), Belarus (2024).
SCO Partners: 17 countries (Observer States + Dialogue Partners merged in 2025). Latest Partner: Laos (2025).
Key Principles: Shanghai Spirit: Mutual trust, Mutual benefit, Equality, Respect for cultural diversity, Common development.
SCO Objectives:
- Promote regional peace, security & stability.
- Combat the “Three Evils”: Terrorism, Separatism, Extremism.
- Strengthen economic cooperation, connectivity, energy ties.
- Promote cultural & humanitarian exchanges.
- Support multipolar, equitable global order.
SCO Structure:
- Council of Heads of State (CHS) — Top decision-making body.
- Council of Heads of Government (CHG) — Economic cooperation.
- Council of Foreign Ministers — Coordinates foreign policy.
- Council of National Coordinators — Administrative coordination.
- Secretariat (Beijing) — Executive body.
- RATS (Tashkent) — Counterterrorism body.
- SCO Business Council & Interbank Consortium — Economic & financial cooperation.
Significance of SCO:
- Represents 40% of global population, ~25% of global GDP.
- Key Eurasian platform linking South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia & West Asia.
- Important for regional security, energy networks, connectivity.
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