The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an international organization founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. With the exception of Uzbekistan, the rest of the countries were members of the Shanghai Five, founded as a result of the signing in 1996-1997. agreements between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia and Tajikistan on strengthening confidence in the military field and on the mutual reduction of armed forces in the border area.
In accordance with the decisions of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers), heads of line ministries and/or departments of member states regularly hold meetings to consider specific issues of developing interaction in relevant areas within the SCO. To prepare and conduct meetings, by prior agreement of the Member States, working groups of experts may be created on a permanent or temporary basis, carrying out their activities in accordance with the work regulations approved at meetings of heads of ministries and/or departments. These groups are formed from representatives of ministries and/or departments of member states.
The regional anti-terrorist structure of the member states of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism of June 15, 2001 is a permanent body of the SCO. Its main tasks and functions, principles of formation and financing, as well as the procedure for operating are regulated by a separate international treaty concluded between the member states and other necessary documents adopted by them.
The Secretariat is a permanent administrative body of the SCO. It provides organizational and technical support for events held within the SCO and prepares proposals for the annual budget of the Organization.
As for membership in the SCO, the organization is open to admitting other states in the region that undertake to comply with the goals and principles of the Charter, as well as the provisions of other international treaties and documents adopted within the SCO. The decision on the admission of new members to the SCO is made by the Council of Heads of State upon the proposal of the Council of Foreign Ministers on the basis of an official application from the interested state sent to the current Chairman of the Council of Foreign Ministers.