The Saudi Council of Ministers approved today, Wednesday, the Kingdom's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a dialogue partner. A statement from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers indicated that the council convened today and "approved a memorandum regarding granting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."
The Shanghai Organization was established in 2001 between Russia, China, and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Central Asia, and it has expanded to include India and Pakistan. Last year, Iran signed the documents for full membership in the organization.
Since its establishment, the Shanghai Organization has focused on regional security issues, combating terrorism and sectarianism, in addition to development issues. The organization has had observer status at the United Nations since 2005, and in 2010, a declaration for joint cooperation between the two was signed, leading to the establishment of partnerships in various fields.
