Algeria applied for partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Along with Algeria, Laos also applied for this status, Lavrov noted, adding that improving the efficiency of work with these countries in the SCO+ format was discussed at the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Astana on Tuesday.
He highlighted that a separate dialogue in the SCO+ format will be held at the SCO leaders' summit in Astana this July.
SCO, which was established in 2001, includes nine countries, namely India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. There are also three observer states in the organization and 14 dialogue partners.