Bishkek, Dec 5 (IANS) India and Pakistan Wednesday expressed their willingness to become members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Currently, both nations attend SCO meetings as observers. "We would be very happy to continue working in SCO as a full-fledged member as soon as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization makes a decision to expand," Secretary (East) in the Indian foreign ministry Sanjay Singh said during a meeting of the heads of governments of SCO nations.

Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said at the meeting that his country also wants to join the SCO as a full-fledged member.

"We are looking forward to beginning work with you as a full-fledged member," Xinhua quoted Kaira as saying.

The 11th heads of government meeting of the SCO opened Wednesday with a focus on strengthening cooperation in economy and cultural exchanges within the framework of SCO.

Leaders from the six SCO members - China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and five SCO observer countries - Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran, India and Afghanistan, attended the meeting.

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