Regional alliance expanding southwards, claiming more influence on world order

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting is drawing to a close, which means it’s a high time for decisions and conclusions. Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member-states signed several documents as the result of the meeting in Astana.

Members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization signed a joint declaration; a Concept for SCO Cooperation against Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism; a Provision on Permanent Representatives of SCO Member States in Regional Anti-Terrorist Structures.

India, Iran, and Pakistan were granted observer status in the organization.

Earlier today, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization grouping Russia, China and Central Asian countries called for the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition in Afghanistan to set a time frame for withdrawing its forces from member states.

Both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan host U.S. bases whose troops are involved in the Afghanistan operation.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, at a summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, said in the declaration that a withdrawal date should be announced in light of the decline of active fighting in Afghanistan.

The statement appears to reflect growing uneasiness with the U.S. presence and increasing concerns that the United States is encouraging the export of "color" revolutions to Central Asia countries.

On Friday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Hu Jiantao signed a Joint Declaration on the International Order in the 21st Century, a declaration reaffirming China and Russia's call for respecting international law and establishing a stronger U.N. role internationally.