Beijing: Malaysia sees no necessity to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for now, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Instead, he said Malaysia should focus on strengthening ASEAN while exploring opportunities to further enhance its engagement and cooperation with the SCO.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad emphasized the importance of empowering ASEAN and establishing a better relationship with the SCO. He shared these insights with the Malaysian media delegation covering Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's four-day working visit to China.

During the visit, which included stops in Beijing and Tianjin, Mohamad accompanied Anwar as the Prime Minister was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the SCO Summit. Anwar was given the opportunity to deliver remarks at the SCO Plus Summit as a special guest.

Mohamad reiterated that Malaysia currently sees no need to become a member state of the SCO. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established in 2001, aims to encourage effective cooperation among member states in various spheres, including politics, economy, regional security, and more.

The SCO now comprises 10 members, namely China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, representing over three billion people or about 45 per cent of the world's population. Additionally, the SCO includes two 'observer countries' and 14 dialogue partners. The combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the organisation in 2023 accounted for approximately 32 per cent of the world's total.