Why in News
Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Asthana, Kazakhstan, emphasised the need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism in all its forms for prosperity and development of the SCO member states
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.
It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
It was created in 2001.
Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to ensure stability along the borders.
Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organisation in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003
India and Pakistan became members in 2017
The SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese
Member countries: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran (9th, last member)
Structure of SCO
Heads of State Council – The supreme SCO body which decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States & international organisations, and considers international issues.
Heads of Government Council – Approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs – Considers issues related to day-to-day activities.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) – Established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
SCO Secretariat – Based in Beijing to provide informational, analytical & organisational support.
Astana
Astana, most recently known as Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmola Region, though administered as a city with special status separately from the rest of the region
It is the second-largest city in the country, after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997
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