BEIJING: China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou on Thursday allayed apprehensions aired by the state-run Chinese media that entry of Pakistan and India could disrupt the unity of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). “In the charter of the SCO there is a clause that the hostility between the bilateral relations should not be brought to the organisation and I believe both the countries will abide by the charter of the organisation,” he said during the flag-hoisting ceremony of Pakistan and India at the SCO Headquarters in Beijing to formally admit the two nations as new members of the grouping. He said, “As a founding member of the SCO, we are very happy about the membership of India and Pakistan. China believes the entry of Pakistan and India will guarantee very good cooperation in the organisation.” “Between our member states our interests far outweigh our differences. So, we should not exaggerate the differences between the countries, as it is not good for the organisation and cooperation between member states. After becoming members, we all become members of the big family,” he said. Xuanyou stated, “Both countries are important in the region and China, Pakistan and India are in similar stage of development. We face similar challenges. Therefore, we hope that through this organisation we can work together to overcome these challenges.” He also said that China had certain expectations of India’s role in the SCO.