“In July in Astana the next SCO meeting will be held. It would be very symbolic, and we would welcome it, if Belarus becomes a full member of the SCO in Astana. We will ask for it, much depends on the presiding party,” Lukashenko said at a meeting with Kazakh Ambassador to Minsk Erlan Baizhanov.

According to the Belarusian leader, Kazakhstan this year chairs the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the SCO, and in February the documents on the country’s membership were ratified.

During the meeting with the ambassador, Lukashenko referred to the international situation as a whole.

“The state of affairs in the world is difficult. It affects us and affects our relations. Especially the threat of the sanctions policy by the West. But we cooperate and should find ways, without creating problems for Kazakhstan,” he stressed.

Founded in 2001, the SCO brings together China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The regional body accounts for 25% of the global Gross Domestic Product and almost half of the world’s population.

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