Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov (L) in a peace talk in Astana, Kazakhstan (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

The summit is particularly important for India and Pakistan because they will be formally admitted into the group. Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakkhmanov said this is a historic landmark as with the two new members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will become the world’s largest regional organization, covering 23 percent of the world’s land area, and encompassing 45 percent of the world’s population with 25 percent of its GDP. Assistant to Russian President Yuri Ushakov said the summit will also consider admitting Iran to the organization.

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2017, participants will discuss the fight against terrorism, the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East.