No. of Recommendations: 2
I have compiled this summary from this excellent video introduction to the SCO which was new to me, but you can alternatively watch the video. The SCO - Shanghai Cooperation Organization - now represents 40% of the global population and includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran has just become a full member of the SCO. A lot of other counties including Egypt and United Emirates have recently joined the BRICS New Development Bank. The SCO was originality mostly security cooperation but has been increasingly for economic progress, and they are calling for counties in Asia to create new payment mechanisms using their own currencies in order to avoid outside meddling in their progress by ourselves - or to be more fair on us, by Washington. They are producing a more fair international economic system not involving the US dollar so a lot more immune from US interference. This presentation is a good introduction to this globally important economic trend. The NATO counties have been very weary of the Asian counties working together and there has been some effort to least try to separate India out. China presents over half the power of SCO. Overall the SCO represents 30% of the global economic activity which is the same size as the G7, though the population of the SCO is much larger and they will grow to exceed to G7 in their activity. It very significant and especially as related to global manufacturing. If you go to your store to buy almost everything has the supply chain involving the BRICS and SCO counties. From the latest IMF data, Russia (11% of world production) is the world's 3rd largest oil producer and 2nd largest gold producers, and they have a lot of military expertise so their cooperation with China is especially important for China, and they will remain very good friends. So these SCO counties are as a group very important for the global economy going forward and increasingly so. The SCO are focussed on economic integration but also include cooperation for their security. There is a lot of racism toward Iran with our propaganda, such as lumping them in with terrorism which has no relation to Iran (actually the terrorism we fear was ISIS which is based in Iraq, not Iran, and Iran has actually been playing a key role in fighting it - by contrast we have been strengthening ISIS through our history of weapons supply). China and Russia also take the fight against ISIS seriously. US trade with China and the SCO has been increasing in recent years despite our anti-Russia and anti-China sanctions, so our good relations with SCO will become increasingly valuable to us so that we remain integrated. We can also learn from them in relation to combatting climate change. The SCO also share scientific research which Iran is especially successful in, including nano-engineering and defense. Because of the sanctions against Iran for so many decades they have developed a powerful unique technologies which are valuable to their friendly counties of the SCO able to cooperate with Iran. Their presently announced mutual security development to challenge US oriented military research. Iran is largely a state owned economy, which doesn't allows our access to privatizing their property which is much of the reason why we smear the country and treat them as an enemy. I respect Iran for standing up for itself and glad it is now joining the SCO for even more Eurasian trade integration and security cooperation. The SCO is more focussed on economic integration and may infuriate Washington but is very positive for the world.
https://youtu.be/YVKNh1gLSO0 