Really? This is from the horse's mouth.
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/shanghai-cooperation-organization.en.mfa
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The aim of the organization is to strengthen good-neighbourly, friendly relations and mutual trust among Member States; to exert common efforts for the protection of regional peace, security and stability; to fight against terrorism, radicalism, separatism, organized crime and illegal migration; to reinforce cooperation in political, economic, scientific, technologic and energy, as well as environmental issues.
The Date of Establishment:
15th July 2001
The Center:
Beijing
Secretary General:
Rashid Alimov (Tajikistan)
Member States:
People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan
Observer States:
Afghanistan, Mongolia, Iran, Belarus
Dialogue Partners:
Turkey, Sri Lanka, Kamboçya, Nepal, Azerbaijan and Armenia
The Historical Background of the Organization
Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 1996 by the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in order to build mutual trust among Member States, to disarm the border regions and to encourage regional cooperation under the name “Shanghai Five”.
In 1996 and 1997, the Heads of States of aforementioned five countries came together and signed, respectively in Shanghai and Moscow, the “Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions” and the “Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions”. In summit meetings between 1998 and 2000 which were held respectively in Almaty, Bishkek and Dushanbe, Member States consulted on ways to increase security in border region, as well as, on political, economic and security issues.
In Heads of State Meeting which was held in Shanghai on 14-15 June 2001, in the light of recent developments both in international arena and Member States, it was decided to transform the Shanghai Five into a regional organization in order to carry out a more effective cooperation for combating threats of terrorism, separatism and radicalism. In this context, a Joint Declaration admitting Uzbekistan as member of the Shanghai Five mechanism was adopted and the Declaration on the Establishment of Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed by six Member Countries. In addition, “Shanghai Convention on Combatting Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism” was signed in the meeting.
In the first Prime Minister’s meeting of SCO which was held in Almaty on 14 September 2001, a Memorandum of Understanding on Creating Better Conditions for Regional Economic Cooperation and Trade, as well as Investments was signed. Moreover, it was declared that the meetings on the level of Prime Ministers of the Member States have become a regular mechanism. Today, along with other meeting mechanisms, SCO heads of State Summit and SCO Prime Minister’s Council Meetings held once a year constitute the highest level of these mechanisms. Compared with the Heads of State Summit, it is obvious that Prime Minister’s meeting especially addresses development issues and economic cooperation and presents a preparation for the Summit.
With SCO Charter which was signed in St. Petersburg at the SCO Heads of State Summit, on 7 June 2002, its targets, principles, structure, activities, cooperation areas and foreign relations have been determined.
Lastly, the 17th SCO Summit of Heads of State was held on 8-9 June 2017 in Astana. One of the most important agenda items of the Summit was the enlargement of the Organization. In this framework, the accession of India and Pakistan to the SCO as full members was approved by the Council of Heads of States during the Astana Summit.
At the end of the Summit, the Presidency of SCO was assumed by China.
Turkey’s Status
In Dushanbe Summit of 2008, a new mechanism under the name of “the Status of Dialogue Partner of SCO” were adopted with a view to institutionalizing the relations with third countries and international organizations wishing to have contact with the Organization and not having at observer status.
The status of Dialogue Partnership provides the third countries not having observer status with limited cooperation with the Organization in certain fields. The status in question is beyond “quest participants” and under “the observer status” in terms of the degree of institutional ties with the Organization.
SCO is working on establishing a special mechanism for furthering contacts with observer members and dialogue partners. In this context, it is aimed at founding units that will operate as committee/commission for managing contacts with SCO partners.
On 23 March 2011, Turkey applied for receiving the Status of Dialogue Partnership in the Organization. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) approved Turkey’s application to become a Dialogue Partner at the Summit of the Heads of State of the SCO held in Beijing, China on 6-7 June 2012. Memorandum setting out cooperation modalities between Turkey as Dialogue Partner and the SCO was signed on 26 April 2013 in Almaty. Ratification process of the aforementioned document has been concluded by the adoption of the Cabinet of Ministers Decision dated 1 May 2017 in the Official Journal on 24.05.2017.
Dialogue Partnership envisages the improvement of cooperation between Turkey and SCO in various subjects mainly in regional security, fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and preventing organized crime as well as economic and cultural fields.
Of course Turkey is strongly cooperating with Russia on TurkStream gas pipeline and with China on BRI
Turkey strong supporter of Belt and Road, Erdoğan tells Chinese press
https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomac...-of-belt-and-road-erdogan-tells-chinese-press
Turkey, Russia launch TurkStream pipeline carrying gas to Europe
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...pipeline-carrying-gas-to-europe-idUSKBN1Z71WP