Iran Press/ Asia: Turkey is seeking membership in the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attempts to forge alliances with friendly countries in the East.
Erdogan announced after attending the SCO summit in Uzbekistan on Friday, where he held talks with leaders including China's President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A successful bid would make Turkey the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization member to join the bloc.
"Our relationship with these countries will be moved to a much different position with this step," Erdogan said about the SCO when he spoke with reporters in the city of Samarkand, where the summit was held, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
Turkey has been affiliated with the SCO since 2013 when it signed a partnership agreement. Full membership of the bloc would give Erdogan renewed leverage against the West and the prospect of stronger economic ties as the government attempts to stabilize a troubled economy ahead of next year's election.
Apart from Russia and China, the SCO also includes Iran, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
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