The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a new type of regional international organisation intended to improve the security of its member states by helping them defend their territorial integrity and foster economic cooperation between them. Though the fight against terrorism, separatism and religious extremism remains its primary function, other purposes have been added to the common agenda, such as the repression of the drug trade and organised crime, ensuring the departure of non-member military forces stationed in SCO states, building up trade and investment and setting up an energy exporters and consumers club.
