The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) remains prepared to expand its membership to countries that share its vision, said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
“The SCO will uphold the principle of openness and inclusiveness and keep its doors open to all countries who identify with the Shanghai spirit,” she told reporters at her regular press conference on Friday.
Mao Ning said this when responding to a question if the attendance of SCO non-dialogue partners countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia, indicates that SCO is considering admission of new member states.
The text of her press conference was published on the ministry’s website.
On Friday, Bernama reported China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin as saying that Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will join more than 20 world leaders at the upcoming SCO Summit 2025 in Tianjin, China, from Aug 31 to Sept 1.
An official from the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing said Malaysia will be involved in the SCO Plus Meeting during the summit.
SCO was established in 2001 in Shanghai by six founding nations – China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The member countries have now expanded to 10 after Pakistan, India, Iran and Belarus joined the organisation, while Mongolia and Afghanistan have been granted observer status.
Among the 13 SCO dialogue partners are Sri Lanka, Turkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives

Published Date:2025-08-25