India set to become a member of SCO

India is set to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) when the security grouping meets for its summit in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tashkent to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. During his meeting with Chinese President, he thanked China for supporting India's membership of SCO. Uzbekistan's capital,

Tashkent, is hosting the important Shanghai Cooperation Organization annual meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the two day meeting from June 23. Following his arrival in Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister said that his talks at the SCO Summit will strengthen India's bilateral ties with the SCO nations. 

During his bilateral meeting with Chinese President, Prime Minister thanked China for supporting India's membership to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

India, which had earlier attended the SCO as an observer, will now do so as a full member of the organization.

The meeting assumes greater significance for India. Since 2005 Indian has been an observer country at the SCO. 

In December 2014 India applied for SCO membership. On May 24 this year the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Tashkent adopted the memorandum of obligations for India to gain full membership.

The SCO started as the Shanghai Five in April 1996 in Shanghai when China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed a Treaty on Deepening Military Trust among them.

In June 2001, the group was renamed as the SCO by including Uzbekistan. It aimed to increase trade and investment and also increase cooperation in combating terrorism. 

India's investment in Iran's Chabahar port has opened the West Asian Market to Indian trade and commerce. 

Now with the SCO membership India can also access via sea and road links a huge market extending to Central Asia and Europe. 

The Central Asian countries have rich reserves of various minerals, oil, gas and coal. 

The region can play a major role in meeting India's energy as well as strategic needs. 

Last year, Prime Minister Modi's visit to five Central Asian countries strengthened India's engagement with the region. 

Now, thanks to India's scheduled full membership of the SCO, India has a strong platform to build on these relationships.