WASHINGTON, July 12. /TASS/. Turkey is poised to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington.

"Turkey, which now has the SCO observer status, aims to become the organization’s full member. It should join the Shanghai five," he said at a news conference, aired by TRT Haber.

Erdogan added that he had already discussed the matter with the leaders of Russia and China.

The Turkish president attended the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on July 3-4. On the outcomes of the meeting, he announced plans to develop relations with Russia and China within the organization’s framework.

Earlier, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming said that Turkey, even despite its NATO membership, actively participates in the organization's activities, which are not aimed against other states. According to Zhang Ming, the interaction with the Turkish side is based on the principles set out in the charter of the organization, in accordance with the Shanghai spirit.