Welcoming India and Pakistan into the SCO, China dismissed apprehensions that their differences could disrupt the unity of the grouping saying its charter strictly prohibits members to bring their bilateral hostility into the organisation.
China, a dominant member of the now eight-member group, hosts the headquarters of the organisation.
The SCO headquarters held a ceremony today to hoist the flags of India and Pakistan.
Indian Ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale and his Pakistan counterpart Masood Khalid attended the ceremony which included jointly beating a huge SCO cooperation drum heralding the admission of their respective countries into the grouping.
India and Pakistan were formally admitted as members at Kazakhstan capital Astana at the SCO summit held on June 8-9.
