After adding Belarus, it will boast 10 members, representing more than 40% of the world’s population and roughly a quarter of the global economy.
Growing ambitionsAs the SCO grows in international visibility and economic weight, it has also broadened in geopolitical ambitions.
Putin speaks to Xi at the SCO summit two years ago in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
But the Belarus membership also creates big question marks that will hang over the organization, Gill said.
After the summit in Astana, China is due to take up the rotating presidency of the SCO for a year.
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