The states-members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are discussing providing an observer status to Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a news briefing on Thursday.

He said China hoped that interested sides would come to agreement on that matter in a nearest time.

Kong Quan also said that the SCO was permanently developing the relations and consolidating reciprocal trust with other international and regional organizations, an indication of which had been the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the SCO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was set up in 2001. It comprises Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Currently, only Mongolia has observer status in the organization.