SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan– Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Friday signed and released here the Samarkand declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.

The 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO also released a number of statements and documents on safeguarding global food security, international energy security, addressing climate change, and maintaining a secure, stable and diversified supply chain. 

India will take over the rotating SCO presidency in 2022-2023.

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A memorandum of obligations on Iran's SCO membership was signed at the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO held here on Friday.

The meeting also started the procedure for Belarus' accession, granted Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners, and reached an agreement on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners,

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It also adopted a series of resolutions, including a Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027.