BEIJING, May 26: China on Thursday hoped that Pakistan would soon get ‘Observer status’ in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a key regional security grouping. A spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Kong Quan told reporters at the weekly news briefing that China favours enlargement of SCO and its maximum cooperation with other regional groups in addressing various regional and international issues including terrorism.

Pakistan has already shown its intention to join the SCO, he said adding, “we hope the member countries will reach consensus at an early date for bringing new members in its fold.”

Pakistan has applied for SCO’s membership about five years back and up till now its application was pending for consideration.

“Initially, we expect to join this important body as an observer by the end of this year, before having full membership,” said a senior Pakistani official. Pakistan is confident that the member countries including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan would support Pakistan’s request for its participation in the SCO’s activities.

According to sources, the SCO is faced with a lot of work concerning development of its organizational mechanisms. Therefore, it was decided not to give full membership to any other country for time being. However, it will follow the principle of openness and accept more members in the future.

The diplomatic sources have indicated that the question of SCO’s expansion is likely to come under consideration at the next summit meeting scheduled to take place at Astana, Kazakhstan next month.—APP