Türkiye will continue to develop its relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, according to a press statement issued by the Turkish Presidency after a cabinet meeting.
"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, of which we are a dialogue partner, is one of the regional organizations with which our relations have intensified in recent years," Erdogan said.
Noting that SCO member states account for a substantial share of the global population and economic output, he said the organization has considerable potential.
Erdogan said the organization represents a population of nearly 4 billion and an economy approaching $35 trillion, describing it as having significant potential. Türkiye's annual trade volume with member countries is approaching $150 billion, he said, adding that Ankara wants to increase the figure in a more balanced structure.
The Turkish leader said he attended the organization's leaders' summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1 as an honorary guest, where Türkiye's importance to the organization was highlighted, particularly on energy security and connectivity. He said he also held talks with several heads of state and government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We will continue to develop our relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which we regard as complementary to the United Nations," Erdogan said.
