Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the SCO summit in Ufa, said that Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal have joined the organization as dialogue partners.
"This summit opens a new stage in SCO development. For the first time in the organization's existence, the procedure for admission of new members, India and Pakistan, is being launched," the Russian leader noted.
"We have agreed to upgrade the status of the Republic of Belarus in participation in SCO activity to that of an observer state," Putin said.
"A number of other countries have expressed their interest in joining our organization in one form or another. We will attentively process their applications, taking due account of relevant requirements," TASS cited Putin as saying.
