Riyadh approves memorandum on joining SCO

Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Saudi Arabia has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), state news agency SPA said.

Joining the SCO was discussed during a visit by Chinese resident Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia last December, sources said. Dialogue partner status will be a first step within the organisation before granting the kingdom full membership in the mid-term, they said.

Iran also signed documents for full membership last year.