Imanaliev said only two companies applied for membership and the organization pays serious attention to them.

He said the SCO expansion is perspective of the organization. He added that the SCO experts are developing criteria for adoption of new members.

Each new country, which becomes the SCO member, should strengthen the organization. He added that there is no preferences for new members, RIA Novosti reported.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001. The organization includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have the observer status.