Q. Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:

  1. It is an intergovernmental organization to promote cooperation in trade, politics, and culture.
  2. The Anti-Terrorist structure of SCO is located in Beijing.

Which of the above statement is/are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 only
  • Both 1 and 2
  • Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Notes:
  • SCO stands for “Shanghai Cooperation Organization“. It is an intergovernmental political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The first summit was held in Shanghai, China, in 2001.
  • The SCO aims to promote cooperation and mutual support in areas such as trade, investment, energy, transportation, and security. 
  • The official working language of the SCO Secretariat is Russian and Chinese.
  • It has a permanent secretariat in Beijing, China.
  • The main objectives of SCO are:
    • Strengthen relations among member states.
    • Promote cooperation in political affairs, economics, and trade, scientific-technical, cultural, and educational spheres as well as in energy, transportation, tourism, and environmental protection.
    • Safeguard regional peace, security, and stability.
    • Create a democratic, equitable international political and economic order.
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation encompasses approximately 60% of the Eurasian area and 40% of the global population.
  • The combined GDP of its member states accounts for around 20% of the world’s GDP.
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has a number of affiliated organizations, including the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and the SCO Business Council.
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has 9 members, including China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure
  • The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation tasked with coordinating counterterrorism efforts across member countries and advancing cooperation on SCO initiatives to mitigate the “Three Evils” – terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.
  • The organization is meant to lay the groundwork for a future enforcement capability within the SCO, which aspires to develop its own transnational police and military forces.
  • RATS was headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, until 2022, when the organisation voted to move its headquarters to Moscow, Russia.
  • RATS’ official languages are Chinese, Russian and English.