An Overview of SCO Multi-lateral Trade and Cooperation

In the increasingly interconnected contemporary world, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is the epitome of political and economic confluence. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO, as is commonly known, is a relatively new regional organization with a multi-dimensional agenda that covers the features of security along with economic cooperation. It was initiated in 2001 as a prominent feature of the region, represented by the member states. Originally, the member states included the ‘Shanghai Five’, i.e., the founding states which include China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. The latest addition of India and Pakistan as permanent members of the organization is the harbinger of fruitful expansion of the organization with regards to becoming a noticeable facet of the region, in the global arena. The multi-faceted organization has emerged as an intergovernmental entity that works on the principles of non-interference and integrity of the sovereignty of the member states. This paper aims to discuss the prospects of economic integration and cooperation in the region.