Maldives has officially become a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers being held in Goa, India, from 4-5 May 2023.

The High Commissioner of Maldives to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Government of Maldives, formalizing the Dialogue Partner status of the Maldives.

During the signing ceremony, High Commissioner Shaheeb pledged Maldives’ commitment to be an active and responsible Dialogue Partner of the organization, which embraces the values of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and the pursuit of common development.

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 held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15-16 September 2022, the Maldives has received various capacity building and training opportunities open to Dialogue Partners.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that 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 formalization 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.