Elena Teslova
04 July 2023•Update: 04 July 2023
MOSCOW
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to grant Belarus full membership.
Putin said via video link at the SCO Council of Heads of State hosted by India in a virtual format that Belarus' accession will have a positive impact on the organization's activities.
He noted that Iran completed the SCO membership process in two years and emphasized the necessity of considering other applications for membership in the organization.
"The authority and influence of our association continue to strengthen, and interest in its activities from other states and international structures is growing. Many of them seek to establish an equal dialogue with the SCO and are considering the possibility of joining its work. They trust us, they want to be friends and cooperate with us," he said.
Moscow, for its part, plans to deepen ties with the SCO members, which are growing successfully, as trade turnover among SCO countries increased by 37% last year, reaching a record $263 billion.
"The use of national currencies in mutual settlements is expanding. For example, more than 80% of commercial transactions between Russia and the People's Republic of China are carried out in rubles and yuan. The share of the Russian currency in export transactions with all SCO countries in 2022 exceeded $40," he noted.
Russia takes an active part in the implementation of the SCO roadmap on the transition to national currencies in mutual trade, which was approved at the previous summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's capital, because Moscow considers it important "to take coordinated measures to eliminate regulatory barriers, establish the necessary payment infrastructure, and create an independent financial system," he said.
Taking into account the situation in neighboring Afghanistan, the Russian president also named ensuring security in SCO states and along the perimeter of their external borders as one of the organization's key tasks.
Putin also stressed the SCO reformation to move forward, praised India's chairmanship in the SCO, and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for organizing the summit.
