SCO accepts Afghanistan as observer, Turkey dialogue partner

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has decided to grant Afghanistan observer status and accept Turkey as a dialogue partner, President Hu Jintao said Thursday.

Hu announced the decision made by SCO member states at a press conference held after the SCO Beijing summit, which ran from Wednesday to Thursday. China currently serves as SCO president, Xinhua reported.

Heads of the SCO member states signed a corresponding resolution at their summit I Beijing on 7 June 2012.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 and currently has six full members -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Prior to Thursday's inclusion, the SCO had four observer states (Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India) and two dialogue partners (Belarus and Sri Lanka).