China denies SCO is potential military bloc

China on Wednesday denied the possibility that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would evolve into a military and political bloc.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin made the remarks at a daily news conference in response to media reports likening the SCO to an eastern NATO.

Liu said that the charter of the SCO determined its nature of non-alliance, non-confrontation, not targeting at any third country or organization and openness to outside parties.

He said the robust development of the SCO lies in its quest for a new model of partnership for regional organization, which conforms to the common desire among people in the SCO member states for peace, development and cooperation.

The SCO has created the "Shanghai Spirit" that features mutual trust and benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and the pursuit of common development, he said.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai in 2001 and has six full members China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India are observer states, while Belarus and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.