Ankara, Sept. 2 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkiye would consider full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The move would deepen Ankara's ties with the China and Russia-led security bloc.

Erdogan said possible full membership would not mean leaving other international blocs. He also stressed that the move would not sever Turkiye's connections with Western countries.

"Turkey's prospect of membership" does not mean a break from the West, Erdogan said. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists during his return flight from Kyrgyzstan.

Erdogan attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on Tuesday. Turkiye currently holds dialogue partner status within the organisation. The ...