The Lao People's Democratic Republic was officially granted dialog partner status of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at a signing ceremony of memorandum held in Beijing on Friday morning.
SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane attended the ceremony.
At the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, held in north China's Tianjin last year, Laos was accepted as a dialog partner of the SCO.
Yeremykbayev said Laos' accession will further expand the SCO's engagement with Southeast Asia.
Thongsavanh described becoming an SCO dialog partner as a strategic step in the country's foreign relations, saying Laos is ready to actively promote the "Shanghai Spirit" and the SCO's guiding principle, and contribute to regional peace, security, and sustainable development.
To date, the SCO has 10 member states, two observer states and 15 dialog partners, including Laos.
Laos officially becomes SCO dialogue partner
