China to host Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers

ANKARA

China will host foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Tuesday, according to an official statement.

The meeting will take place in the city of Tianjin and is expected to be attended by the foreign ministers of Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, as well as the heads of the SCO’s permanent bodies.

"Parties will exchange views on SCO cooperation in various fields and major international and regional issues," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Beijing on Sunday, while other foreign ministers are expected to arrive on Monday.

Last month, China hosted the Defense Ministers' Meeting of the SCO member states in the eastern city of Qingdao. However, no joint statement was issued at the end, as Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the bloc's communique.

The SCO, established in 2001, is an inter-governmental organization comprising 10 member states – China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid