Middle Eastern countries are keen to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in order to reduce poverty and achieve peace, stability and development in the region, an Egyptian expert has said,
according to Xinhua.
"Many countries of the world, especially the Middle East and Arab world, are seeking to join the SCO for several reasons, including the desire to develop and strengthen cooperation in the fields of politics, trade, economy, science, technology, culture and education," as well as to strengthen trust and achieve mutual understanding among its members, Abu Bakr al-Deeb, advisor to the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies and an Egyptian researcher in political economy, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Highlighting the strong and constructive role of China and Russia in the SCO, the expert said that "the role both countries play enhances cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, combating terrorism, extremism, illegal drug and human trafficking."