The fifth summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be held in Tianjin, China, from 31 August to 1 September. More than 20 heads of state and leaders of 10 international organizations have been invited to the meeting, said Liu Bin, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, at a press conference in Beijing yesterday.

Leaders from over 20 countries, including Russia, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Türkiye, as well as representatives from the United Nations, ASEAN, and other international organizations, have been invited to attend.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It now has 10 member states, two observer states, and 14 dialogue partners.

As a major international cooperation organization, it prioritizes trade, the economy, science and technology, culture and education, energy, transportation and tourism, environmental protection, and regional security and stability.

With broad participation, the SCO has become an influential organization on the world stage. This year’s summit is hosted by the People’s Republic of China. Myanmar has been a dialogue partner of the SCO since 2023. — Khin Yadana/MKKS