Laos Officially Granted Dialogue Partner Status in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) signed a memorandum of understanding with Laos on Friday, officially granting the country the status of a dialogue partner within the organization.

The document was signed by Norlan Yermekbayev, Secretary-General of the SCO, and Thongloun Sisoulith, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, at the SCO Secretariat headquarters in Beijing.

The decision to grant Laos dialogue partner status was made during the SCO summit held in Tianjin, China, in September 2025. The signing of the memorandum completes all necessary procedures and constitutes a fundamental element of this status. The document outlines the core rights, obligations, and areas for future cooperation.

According to established rules, a dialogue partner is entitled to participate in specialized meetings, ministerial sessions, and expert forums in the fields specified in the memorandum of understanding.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an international body founded in 2001. Its member states include Russia, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Current dialogue partner countries comprise Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Cambodia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Laos.