UAE joins China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a dialogue partner

Another MENA state joins China’s SCO:The UAE has been named dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry. The Gulf state joins Egypt and Qatar, who joined the organization last year, and Saudi Arabia, which in March approved plans to join as a dialogue partner.

China’s Belt and Road could link up with Kabul: The Taliban could see USD bns in infrastructure funding from China after it struck an agreement with China and Pakistan to extend the initiative to Afghanistan, per a joint Chinese and Pakistani statement.