SCO: expansion of the format, Russia's approaches and cooperation with China

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), formed in 2001, remains a prominent element of international life and multilateral diplomacy, being simultaneously an important priority of Russia's foreign policy, primarily of its eastern vector. In the new geopolitical conditions, arose after the collapse of the USSR, one of the basic goals declared in the SCO documents was to create in Central Asia an environment of general stability and security, to promote regional economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. However, an equally significant (though not too public) goal of the Organization initially was the task to ensure a stable balance of regional forces, first of all in the context of combining the interests of the largest players - Russia and China. This goal remains relevant today. The long-term cooperation of the Russian Federation and China policies within the SCO platform can be characterized as positive. The coordination between them has a cementing effect on the Organization's activities as a whole, serves as an important part of the two countries' interaction on international issues in general. At the same time, the Russian-Chinese partnership in the SCO is not free from competitive elements, often related to the dynamics of each of the two countries economic and political positions in the Central Asian states. Throughout the years of the SCO's existence, the two parties have consistently managed to avoid complications and differences, which could negatively affect the overall high level of Russian-Chinese relations. Moreover, the current expansion of the SCO membership poses new challenges for the Organization. The nowadays situation requires thorough clarification to the Organization's agenda, while it is highly important to ensure that the changes take place without compromising the effectiveness of the SCO. It is just for these purposes that the joint efforts of the SCO heavyweights, Russia and China, today are particularly in demand.