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====Shanghai Cooperation Organization====

====Shanghai Cooperation Organization====

China has likewise improved ties with Russia, with Presidents Putin and Hu exchanging visits to Beijing and Moscow in April 2006 and March 2007. A second round of Russia-China joint military exercises was scheduled for fall 2007. China played a prominent role in the '''Shanghai Cooperation Organization''' ('''SCO'''), a regional grouping that includes Russia and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Beijing has resolved many of its border and maritime disputes, notably including a November 1997 agreement with Russia that resolved almost all outstanding border issues and a 2000 agreement with Vietnam to resolve differences over their maritime border, though disagreements remain over islands in the [[South China Sea]]. Relations with Japan improved following Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]]'s October 2006 visit to Beijing, although longstanding and emotionally charged disputes over history and competing claims to portions of the East China Sea remain sources of tension.  

China has likewise improved ties with Russia, with [[Presidents Putin]] and Hu exchanging visits to [[Beijing]] and [[Moscow]] in April 2006 and March 2007. A second round of Russia-China joint military exercises was scheduled for fall 2007. China played a prominent role in the '''Shanghai Cooperation Organization''' ('''SCO'''), a regional grouping that includes Russia and the Central Asian nations of [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Tajikistan]], and [[Uzbekistan]]. Beijing has resolved many of its border and [[maritime]] disputes, notably including a November 1997 agreement with Russia that resolved almost all outstanding border issues and a 2000 agreement with [[Vietnam]] to resolve differences over their maritime border, though disagreements remain over islands in the [[South China Sea]]. Relations with [[Japan]] improved following Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]]'s October 2006 visit to Beijing, although longstanding and emotionally charged disputes over [[history]] and competing claims to portions of the [[East China Sea]] remain sources of tension.  

While in many ways Sudan's primary diplomatic patron, China has played a role in support of U.N. Peacekeeping operations in Southern Sudan and pledged to contribute an engineering unit in support of UN operations in Darfur. China has stated publicly that it shares the international community's concern over Iran's nuclear program and has voted in support of UN sanctions resolutions on Iran. Set against this has been an effort on the part of China to maintain close ties to countries such as Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Venezuela, which are sources of oil and other resources and which welcome China's non-conditional assistance and investment.

While in many ways Sudan's primary [[diplomatic]] patron, China has played a role in support of [[U.N. Peacekeeping]] operations in [[Southern Sudan]] and pledged to contribute an engineering unit in support of [[UN]] operations in [[Darfur]]. China has stated publicly that it shares the [[international]] community's concern over Iran's [[nuclear]] program and has voted in support of UN sanctions resolutions on Iran. Set against this has been an effort on the part of China to maintain close ties to countries such as Iran, [[Sudan]], [[Zimbabwe]], and [[Venezuela]], which are sources of oil and other resources and which welcome China's non-conditional assistance and investment.

 

Bt 2026 the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has grown to encompass [[Russia]], China, [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Iran]], and [[Central Asian]] states representing nearly half the world's [[population]]. Originally focused on regional [[security]], the SCO now positions itself as a platform for advancing [[multipolar]]ity and resisting [[Western alliance|Western]] [[hegemony]].

====Military developments====

====Military developments====