Saudi Arabia joins Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as ties with Beijing grow

Saudi Arabia has joined Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China despite US security concerns!

The development comes on Wednesday as Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Saudi Arabia has approved a memorandum granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the SCO, said Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Saudi Arabia has joined the organization as a dialogue partner, a first step towards full membership.

The decision followed an announcement by Saudi Aramco (2222. SE) which raised its multi-billion dollar investment in China on Tuesday, by finalising a planned joint venture in northeast China and acquiring a stake in a privately controlled petrochemical group.

During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia in December, the inclusion of Saudi Arabia in SCO was discussed.

It should be noted that Iran has also joined the SCO last year.

As reported, the countries belonging to the organisation plan to hold a joint “counter-terrorism exercise” in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region in August this year.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an international alliance that consists of 8 member states and 4 observers from Eurasia.

It was established on 26 April 1996 as the Shanghai Five.

In addition to the 8 member states and 4 observers, the SCO currently has 9 dialogue partners and 4 guest attendance entries.