The Maldives has officially joined Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a dialogue partner.
High Commissioner of the Maldives to India Ibrahim Shaheeb signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Maldives, formalising the dialogue partner status of the Maldives. The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers held in India. During the signing ceremony, High Commissioner Shaheeb pledged the commitment of the Maldives to be an active and responsible dialogue partner of the organisation, which embraces the values of mutual trust, benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of common development.
The Maldives has received various capacity-building and training opportunities open to dialogue partners since SCO member states endorsed the decision to accord the Maldives the status of a dialogue partner at the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Head of States of the SCO. The Maldives will continue to work closely with SCO and its member states on a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, health, environment, climate change, science, and technology. The formalisation of the dialogue partner status of the Maldives is also a step forward in the government’s vision to build stronger diplomatic and economic ties within Asia, especially with emerging economies.
The SCO, established in June 2001, is a group of eight member states, four observer states, and 14 dialogue partners. India is the current chair of the SCO.