News Analysis India

Tag: SCO summit

  • EAM Jaishankar calls on SCO nations to strictly adhere to international law, respecting sovereignty

    By PTI

    BISHKEK: India on Thursday said that the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should work together to promote stability and prosperity in the region by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and encouraging economic cooperation, in an apparent dig at China.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the remarks here in his address to the 22nd session of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO, which was attended by representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

    “SCO should work together to promote stability and prosperity in the region by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and encouraging economic cooperation,” he said.

    In this context, the centrality of the interests of Central Asian states plays a key role, he said, adding that India is keen to partner with member states for sustainable, mutually beneficial and financially viable solutions as it strives to improve trade within the region.

    “We need robust connectivity and infrastructure. India has accorded utmost priority to these domains in its own developmental journey. At the same time, connectivity initiatives should always respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” he added.

    Beijing is investing billions of dollars in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan. India has protested to China over the economic corridor – the flagship project of the BRI – as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

    Jaishankar said India shares deep civilisational ties with the people of the SCO region.

    Currently, the SCO countries include India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    “The continuous movement of goods, ideas and people traversing the region has left indelible imprints on our customs, traditions, language and cuisine. These historical relationships should now create a template for greater economic cooperation,” he said.

    “To improve trade within the region, we need robust connectivity and infrastructure. Such initiatives should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” he said.

    “The Global South should not be saddled with unviable debt arising from opaque initiatives,” Jaishankar said, in another jibe at China, which is accused of launching unviable infrastructure projects in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, saddling those countries with debts.

    At the same time, Jaishankar said that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) could become enablers in bringing economic prosperity to the region.

    The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which many see as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced by the leaders of the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit in September.

    The International North-South Transport Corridor is a 7,200-km long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

    The Global South refers to countries often characterised as developing, less developed, or underdeveloped, primarily located in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

    Beijing was the lender of choice for many nations over the past decade. Many borrowed heavily from China. There have been global concerns over debt traps and regional hegemony by China using its ambitious BRI infrastructure projects.

    China is doling out huge sums of money for infrastructure projects in countries from Asia to Africa and Europe. The US’ previous Donald Trump administration had been extremely critical of the BRI and was of the view that China’s “predatory financing” is leaving smaller countries under huge debt endangering their sovereignty.

    During its SCO presidency, Jaishankar said, India focused on five new verticals of cooperation- Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Science and Technology, Youth Empowerment and Shared Buddhist Heritage. The response received highlighted the relevance of the chosen themes.

    “We adopted a Statement on Cooperation in Digital Transformation and we have also institutionalized a Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation. India is also hosting SCO Startup Forum on a regular basis,” he said.

    He said that the world is facing challenges of a looming economic recession, broken supply chains, food and energy insecurity and this calls for closer cooperation within the SCO in this context.

    Noting that climate change is one of the serious challenges facing humanity, he said India has pioneered along with partners Global Initiatives contributing to climate action.

    “This includes the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient infrastructure, the infrastructure for resilient island states and the leadership group on industry transition,” he added.

    “India has also launched mission life to bring individual behavioural change to the forefront of global climate action. With a narrative defined by mindful and deliberate utilisation of resources, we have only earth with one shared future therefore we hope that the fight against climate change will unite the world as one family,” he added.

    He said India was committed to tackling the challenge of energy security.

    “We ranked fourth in wind, energy and solar energy. Our government has taken various measures to increase the use of alternate fuel through the National Hydrogen Mission. We are moving towards an environmentally friendly energy source. It will help India and all our partners to achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions,” he said.

    Underlining that food security continues to be a challenge in many parts of the world, he said India believes in harnessing the power of millets as one possible means to ensure global food security. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    BISHKEK: India on Thursday said that the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should work together to promote stability and prosperity in the region by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and encouraging economic cooperation, in an apparent dig at China.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the remarks here in his address to the 22nd session of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO, which was attended by representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

    “SCO should work together to promote stability and prosperity in the region by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and encouraging economic cooperation,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    In this context, the centrality of the interests of Central Asian states plays a key role, he said, adding that India is keen to partner with member states for sustainable, mutually beneficial and financially viable solutions as it strives to improve trade within the region.

    “We need robust connectivity and infrastructure. India has accorded utmost priority to these domains in its own developmental journey. At the same time, connectivity initiatives should always respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” he added.

    Beijing is investing billions of dollars in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan. India has protested to China over the economic corridor – the flagship project of the BRI – as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

    Jaishankar said India shares deep civilisational ties with the people of the SCO region.

    Currently, the SCO countries include India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    “The continuous movement of goods, ideas and people traversing the region has left indelible imprints on our customs, traditions, language and cuisine. These historical relationships should now create a template for greater economic cooperation,” he said.

    “To improve trade within the region, we need robust connectivity and infrastructure. Such initiatives should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” he said.

    “The Global South should not be saddled with unviable debt arising from opaque initiatives,” Jaishankar said, in another jibe at China, which is accused of launching unviable infrastructure projects in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, saddling those countries with debts.

    At the same time, Jaishankar said that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) could become enablers in bringing economic prosperity to the region.

    The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which many see as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced by the leaders of the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit in September.

    The International North-South Transport Corridor is a 7,200-km long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

    The Global South refers to countries often characterised as developing, less developed, or underdeveloped, primarily located in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

    Beijing was the lender of choice for many nations over the past decade. Many borrowed heavily from China. There have been global concerns over debt traps and regional hegemony by China using its ambitious BRI infrastructure projects.

    China is doling out huge sums of money for infrastructure projects in countries from Asia to Africa and Europe. The US’ previous Donald Trump administration had been extremely critical of the BRI and was of the view that China’s “predatory financing” is leaving smaller countries under huge debt endangering their sovereignty.

    During its SCO presidency, Jaishankar said, India focused on five new verticals of cooperation- Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Science and Technology, Youth Empowerment and Shared Buddhist Heritage. The response received highlighted the relevance of the chosen themes.

    “We adopted a Statement on Cooperation in Digital Transformation and we have also institutionalized a Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation. India is also hosting SCO Startup Forum on a regular basis,” he said.

    He said that the world is facing challenges of a looming economic recession, broken supply chains, food and energy insecurity and this calls for closer cooperation within the SCO in this context.

    Noting that climate change is one of the serious challenges facing humanity, he said India has pioneered along with partners Global Initiatives contributing to climate action.

    “This includes the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient infrastructure, the infrastructure for resilient island states and the leadership group on industry transition,” he added.

    “India has also launched mission life to bring individual behavioural change to the forefront of global climate action. With a narrative defined by mindful and deliberate utilisation of resources, we have only earth with one shared future therefore we hope that the fight against climate change will unite the world as one family,” he added.

    He said India was committed to tackling the challenge of energy security.

    “We ranked fourth in wind, energy and solar energy. Our government has taken various measures to increase the use of alternate fuel through the National Hydrogen Mission. We are moving towards an environmentally friendly energy source. It will help India and all our partners to achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions,” he said.

    Underlining that food security continues to be a challenge in many parts of the world, he said India believes in harnessing the power of millets as one possible means to ensure global food security. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • SCO Summit: PM Modi slams ‘double standards’ on cross-border terrorism, Xi Jinping quotes Tagore

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s position on reining in terrorism and ensuring that all states respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while addressing the SCO Heads of State at the 23rd Summit, which was held virtually in Delhi on Tuesday.

    “Terrorism has become a major threat to regional and global peace. Dealing with this challenge requires decisive action, we must unite in our fight against terrorism. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies, provide shelter to terrorists. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations. There should be no place for double standards on such serious matters. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among our youth,” he said.

    PM Modi also emphasised the importance of the principles of the SCO Charter. “It is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and regional integrity of the member states,” he added.

    Welcoming Iran as a full member of the SCO, PM Modi said this would improve connectivity as the Chahabar port could be used for enhanced trading activity.

    Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin complimented PM Modi for the SCO chairmanship and also reaffirmed that his country was in a position of strength.

    “The Russian people are more consolidated than ever. The unity and high responsibility for the fate of the Fatherland was clearly demonstrated by the Russian political circles and the whole of society in uniting against the attempted armed rebellion,” said Putin, adding that Russia’s trade with SCO member states has increased by over one third, or 37 percent, reaching a record high of US$263 billion last year. From January to April this year, it went up by another 35 percent.

    Russia and China have enhanced trade in local currencies and would like to see that extended in the group too.

    ALSO READ | Terrorism remains a major threat to regional and global peace: PM Narendra Modi

    Chinese President Xi Jinping, quoting Rabindranath Tagore, said, “The sea of danger, doubt and denial around man’s little island of certainty challenges him to dare the unknown.” Since its founding over 20 years ago, the SCO has withstood the test of the changing international landscape and kept moving in the right direction of promoting solidarity, mutual trust, development and cooperation, he said.

    China proposed that the SCO scale up local currency settlement between member states, expand cooperation on sovereign digital currency and promote the establishment of an SCO development bank.

    The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to develop a unified map of transport connectivity of the SCO states. “This will determine the bottlenecks and gaps and outline priority actions and projects to create a common, integrated transport and transit system,” he said.

    After the meeting, the leaders signed the New Delhi Declaration and approved the SCO Economic Development Strategy to 2030. The implementation of the SCO Economic Development Strategy will promote regional integration, banking and finance, cooperation in energy and transport and digitisation.

    India also proposed that members cooperate on emerging fuels in the energy sector, decarbonization in the transportation sector and digital transformation.

    Among reforms in the SCO, India proposed the language platform Bhashini to remove linguistic barriers within the organisation.

    The SCO members also signed the Memorandum of Obligation for Belarus’ SCO membership, while all participating countries spoke about the situation in Afghanistan.

    The SCO represents approximately 40 percent of the world’s population and nearly one-third of the global economy. The next chairmanship has been handed over to the President of Kazakhstan.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s position on reining in terrorism and ensuring that all states respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while addressing the SCO Heads of State at the 23rd Summit, which was held virtually in Delhi on Tuesday.

    “Terrorism has become a major threat to regional and global peace. Dealing with this challenge requires decisive action, we must unite in our fight against terrorism. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies, provide shelter to terrorists. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations. There should be no place for double standards on such serious matters. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among our youth,” he said.

    PM Modi also emphasised the importance of the principles of the SCO Charter. “It is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and regional integrity of the member states,” he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    Welcoming Iran as a full member of the SCO, PM Modi said this would improve connectivity as the Chahabar port could be used for enhanced trading activity.

    Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin complimented PM Modi for the SCO chairmanship and also reaffirmed that his country was in a position of strength.

    “The Russian people are more consolidated than ever. The unity and high responsibility for the fate of the Fatherland was clearly demonstrated by the Russian political circles and the whole of society in uniting against the attempted armed rebellion,” said Putin, adding that Russia’s trade with SCO member states has increased by over one third, or 37 percent, reaching a record high of US$263 billion last year. From January to April this year, it went up by another 35 percent.

    Russia and China have enhanced trade in local currencies and would like to see that extended in the group too.

    ALSO READ | Terrorism remains a major threat to regional and global peace: PM Narendra Modi

    Chinese President Xi Jinping, quoting Rabindranath Tagore, said, “The sea of danger, doubt and denial around man’s little island of certainty challenges him to dare the unknown.” Since its founding over 20 years ago, the SCO has withstood the test of the changing international landscape and kept moving in the right direction of promoting solidarity, mutual trust, development and cooperation, he said.

    China proposed that the SCO scale up local currency settlement between member states, expand cooperation on sovereign digital currency and promote the establishment of an SCO development bank.

    The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to develop a unified map of transport connectivity of the SCO states. “This will determine the bottlenecks and gaps and outline priority actions and projects to create a common, integrated transport and transit system,” he said.

    After the meeting, the leaders signed the New Delhi Declaration and approved the SCO Economic Development Strategy to 2030. The implementation of the SCO Economic Development Strategy will promote regional integration, banking and finance, cooperation in energy and transport and digitisation.

    India also proposed that members cooperate on emerging fuels in the energy sector, decarbonization in the transportation sector and digital transformation.

    Among reforms in the SCO, India proposed the language platform Bhashini to remove linguistic barriers within the organisation.

    The SCO members also signed the Memorandum of Obligation for Belarus’ SCO membership, while all participating countries spoke about the situation in Afghanistan.

    The SCO represents approximately 40 percent of the world’s population and nearly one-third of the global economy. The next chairmanship has been handed over to the President of Kazakhstan.

  • India to host SCO summit virtually on July 4, opts against in-person meet

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the virtual format on July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

    However, it did not cite reasons for holding the summit in the virtual mode.

    People familiar with the matter said the option of holding the summit in the virtual format was on the table considering various aspects and a final decision on it was taken following consultations with the member states.

    Last year, the in-person SCO summit took place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand that was attended by all top leaders of the grouping including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

    In September, India will host the G20 summit for which it is going to invite Xi and Putin besides other leaders of the bloc.

    India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16 last year. “Under India’s first-ever chairmanship, the 22nd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on July 4, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the MEA said in a statement.

    India hosted the foreign ministers of the SCO at a two-day conclave in Goa earlier this month.

    The MEA said all the SCO member states — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — have been invited to attend the summit.

    “In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair,” it said.

    The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Heads of the two SCO bodies — the secretariat and the SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) will also be present.

    The MEA said heads of six international and regional organisations have also been invited to the summit. The organisations are the UN, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia).

    The theme of the summit is ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’.

    The SECURE acronym was coined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO summit and it stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during India’s chairmanship of the SCO.

    “India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship — startups and innovation; traditional medicine; digital inclusion; youth empowerment; and shared buddhist heritage,” the MEA said.

    “In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people-to-people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO cultural and tourist capital for 2022-23,” it said.

    The MEA said India’s chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between member states.

    “India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings. India remains committed to play a positive and constructive role in the organization, and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its Chairmanship,” it said.

    India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

    India has shown a keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

    NEW DELHI: India will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the virtual format on July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

    However, it did not cite reasons for holding the summit in the virtual mode.

    People familiar with the matter said the option of holding the summit in the virtual format was on the table considering various aspects and a final decision on it was taken following consultations with the member states.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Last year, the in-person SCO summit took place in the Uzbek city of Samarkand that was attended by all top leaders of the grouping including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

    In September, India will host the G20 summit for which it is going to invite Xi and Putin besides other leaders of the bloc.

    India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16 last year. “Under India’s first-ever chairmanship, the 22nd summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in the virtual format on July 4, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the MEA said in a statement.

    India hosted the foreign ministers of the SCO at a two-day conclave in Goa earlier this month.

    The MEA said all the SCO member states — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — have been invited to attend the summit.

    “In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair,” it said.

    The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

    The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. Heads of the two SCO bodies — the secretariat and the SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) will also be present.

    The MEA said heads of six international and regional organisations have also been invited to the summit. The organisations are the UN, the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia).

    The theme of the summit is ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’.

    The SECURE acronym was coined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO summit and it stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during India’s chairmanship of the SCO.

    “India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship — startups and innovation; traditional medicine; digital inclusion; youth empowerment; and shared buddhist heritage,” the MEA said.

    “In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people-to-people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO cultural and tourist capital for 2022-23,” it said.

    The MEA said India’s chairmanship of SCO has been a period of intense activity and mutually beneficial cooperation between member states.

    “India has hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 Ministerial-level meetings. India remains committed to play a positive and constructive role in the organization, and looks forward to a successful SCO Summit as the culmination of its Chairmanship,” it said.

    India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping, which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

    India has shown a keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

  • Today’s era is not of war, Modi tells Putin in SCO Summit

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: On a day India took charge of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Presidency at Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin at their bilateral meeting on Friday to end the Ukraine conflict, saying, “Today’s era is not of war.”

    In response, Putin said, “I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, your concerns you constantly express. We will do our best to stop this as soon as possible.’’

    Putin also pointed to the growing export of Russian fertilizers to India.

    “Deliveries of fertilizers from Russia to India have increased by more than eight times,” he added.

    “I also know tomorrow is your birthday, dear friend. But in Russian tradition we do not wish in advance but I want you to know we remember this,” Putin told Modi who rings in his 72nd birthday on Saturday.

    Modi also held bilateral talks with Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkey.

    In his bilateral with Iran, Modi and President Ebrahim Raisi assessed the progress in trade and discussed energy ties as also trade through the Chabahar port where India is heavily invested.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral in Uzbekistan on Friday | PTI

    One of Modi’s surprise meetings was with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    The two leaders spoke about bilateral trade enhancement of commercial linkages. There was no interaction with China though its President Xi Jinping said, “We will support India during its Presidency of SCO.”

    “All the meetings that were scheduled did take place,’’ said Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

    Modi announced Varanasi as the first-ever SCO tourist and cultural capital for the grouping for 2022-23. During the course of India’s Presidency, many cultural events will be organised in Varanasi by SCO.

    A joint declaration at the end of the summit said the grouping aimed to prepare a single list of terrorist, separatist and extremist outfits whose activities are banned on the territories of the member states, with an aim to counter threats posed by them to the region.

    VARANASI CAPITAL

    With India taking over SCO’s rotating Presidency, all member states endorsed Varanasi as the first-ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23.

    With India taking over SCO’s rotating Presidency, all member states endorsed Varanasi as the first-ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23.

    NEW DELHI: On a day India took charge of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Presidency at Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin at their bilateral meeting on Friday to end the Ukraine conflict, saying, “Today’s era is not of war.”

    In response, Putin said, “I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, your concerns you constantly express. We will do our best to stop this as soon as possible.’’

    Putin also pointed to the growing export of Russian fertilizers to India.

    “Deliveries of fertilizers from Russia to India have increased by more than eight times,” he added.

    “I also know tomorrow is your birthday, dear friend. But in Russian tradition we do not wish in advance but I want you to know we remember this,” Putin told Modi who rings in his 72nd birthday on Saturday.

    Modi also held bilateral talks with Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkey.

    In his bilateral with Iran, Modi and President Ebrahim Raisi assessed the progress in trade and discussed energy ties as also trade through the Chabahar port where India is heavily invested.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral in Uzbekistan on Friday | PTI

    One of Modi’s surprise meetings was with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    The two leaders spoke about bilateral trade enhancement of commercial linkages. There was no interaction with China though its President Xi Jinping said, “We will support India during its Presidency of SCO.”

    “All the meetings that were scheduled did take place,’’ said Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

    Modi announced Varanasi as the first-ever SCO tourist and cultural capital for the grouping for 2022-23. During the course of India’s Presidency, many cultural events will be organised in Varanasi by SCO.

    A joint declaration at the end of the summit said the grouping aimed to prepare a single list of terrorist, separatist and extremist outfits whose activities are banned on the territories of the member states, with an aim to counter threats posed by them to the region.

    VARANASI CAPITAL

    With India taking over SCO’s rotating Presidency, all member states endorsed Varanasi as the first-ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23.

    With India taking over SCO’s rotating Presidency, all member states endorsed Varanasi as the first-ever tourist and cultural capital of the grouping for the year 2022-23.

  • We want to transform India into a manufacturing hub, says PM Modi at SCO Summit

    By Online Desk

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reiterated to make India a manufacturing hub in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which has caused global supply-chain disruptions.

    While addressing the extended format of the 22nd Summit of the Council of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States (SCO-CoHS) in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand, he said, “There is a lot of focus on the proper use of technology in our people-centric development model. We are making progress in making India a manufacturing hub.”

    “Covid-19 and Ukraine situation resulted in hurdles in the global supply chain, resulting in food and energy security crisis. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is facing a challenge of economic recovery,” the Prime Minister added.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi attends SCO summit, comes face-to-face with Xi for first time since clashes in LAC

    Highlighting the country’s economic stability, he said India has more than 70,000 start-ups and over 100 unicorns.

    “We are focussing on a people-centric development model. We are supporting innovation in every sector. Today, there are more than 70,000 start-ups and over 100 unicorns in our country,” said PM Modi.

    “India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s major economies. For resilient supply chain, better connectivity and giving transit rights to each other will be important. SCO should try to create a resilient supply chain in our region,” he said.

    The summit was an annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation which was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of the other member states of the influential grouping.

    The Prime Minister also raised the issue of “transit rights” of food supplies between the neighbouring nations highlighting that it took many months for India to send supplies to Afghanistan via Pakistan.

    The SCO Summit usually has 2 sessions – a restricted session, only for the SCO member states, and then an extended session which includes participation by observers and special invitees.

    Earlier, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed PM Modi to the Congress Centre in Samarkand for the 22nd SCO Summit. India has been working closely with Uzbekistan towards the success of their Chairship.

    (With inputs from agencies)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reiterated to make India a manufacturing hub in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which has caused global supply-chain disruptions.

    While addressing the extended format of the 22nd Summit of the Council of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States (SCO-CoHS) in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand, he said, “There is a lot of focus on the proper use of technology in our people-centric development model. We are making progress in making India a manufacturing hub.”

    “Covid-19 and Ukraine situation resulted in hurdles in the global supply chain, resulting in food and energy security crisis. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is facing a challenge of economic recovery,” the Prime Minister added.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi attends SCO summit, comes face-to-face with Xi for first time since clashes in LAC

    Highlighting the country’s economic stability, he said India has more than 70,000 start-ups and over 100 unicorns.

    “We are focussing on a people-centric development model. We are supporting innovation in every sector. Today, there are more than 70,000 start-ups and over 100 unicorns in our country,” said PM Modi.

    “India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world’s major economies. For resilient supply chain, better connectivity and giving transit rights to each other will be important. SCO should try to create a resilient supply chain in our region,” he said.

    The summit was an annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation which was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of the other member states of the influential grouping.

    The Prime Minister also raised the issue of “transit rights” of food supplies between the neighbouring nations highlighting that it took many months for India to send supplies to Afghanistan via Pakistan.

    The SCO Summit usually has 2 sessions – a restricted session, only for the SCO member states, and then an extended session which includes participation by observers and special invitees.

    Earlier, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed PM Modi to the Congress Centre in Samarkand for the 22nd SCO Summit. India has been working closely with Uzbekistan towards the success of their Chairship.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Ahead of SCO summit, Pakistan’s PM talks about peaceful ties with India

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With less than a month to go for the SCO Summit in Samarkand, Pakistan’s tone and tenor about the resumption of talks with India appears to be softening. In a meeting with Australia’s newly appointed ambassador in Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he aspires to have peaceful bilateral ties with India. He also spoke about a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

    This is the first time since Sharif came to power that he has expressed a desire to have peaceful bilateral relations with India. He is also believed to have said that the role of the international community will facilitate the peace process in the region.

    “Pakistan is in a political and economic mess that could push it over the cliff like Sri Lanka. Internal unrest and regional instability are threatening its survival. It is left with little choice but to mend bridges with India. What Sharif has communicated to the Australian High Commissioner also indicates that it is hoping to involve close partners of India for a possible thaw, ahead of the upcoming SCO Summit in Samarkand during Sept 15-17,” according to an expert on India-Pakistan relations.

    ALSO READ | 75 years of tensions in India-Pakistan relations

    Inflation is running above 38 per cent annually in Pakistan, and Standards and Poor Global have downgraded Pakistan’s long-term outlook to negative. Pakistan is also desperately seeking help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an urgent release of funds.

    There is coordination between India and Pakistan on one multilateral forum the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both countries have made two joint submissions at the WTO as co-sponsors during the past few months. In June, Pakistan joined India, Cuba, and 44 African countries, seeking sufficient flexibility in intellectual property rights for developing countries to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. In July, the same group of countries again submitted a communication to the WTO on strengthening the intergovernmental organisation to promote development and inclusivity.

    ALSO READ | Partition has turned India, Pakistan into sorrowful countries: BJP leader

    Sharif brings up India at meet with the Aussie envoy

    In a meeting with Australia’s newly appointed ambassador in Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he aspires to have peaceful bilateral ties with India. He also spoke about a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. This is the first time since Sharif came to power that he has expressed a desire to have peaceful bilateral relations with India.

    NEW DELHI: With less than a month to go for the SCO Summit in Samarkand, Pakistan’s tone and tenor about the resumption of talks with India appears to be softening. In a meeting with Australia’s newly appointed ambassador in Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he aspires to have peaceful bilateral ties with India. He also spoke about a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

    This is the first time since Sharif came to power that he has expressed a desire to have peaceful bilateral relations with India. He is also believed to have said that the role of the international community will facilitate the peace process in the region.

    “Pakistan is in a political and economic mess that could push it over the cliff like Sri Lanka. Internal unrest and regional instability are threatening its survival. It is left with little choice but to mend bridges with India. What Sharif has communicated to the Australian High Commissioner also indicates that it is hoping to involve close partners of India for a possible thaw, ahead of the upcoming SCO Summit in Samarkand during Sept 15-17,” according to an expert on India-Pakistan relations.

    ALSO READ | 75 years of tensions in India-Pakistan relations

    Inflation is running above 38 per cent annually in Pakistan, and Standards and Poor Global have downgraded Pakistan’s long-term outlook to negative. Pakistan is also desperately seeking help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an urgent release of funds.

    There is coordination between India and Pakistan on one multilateral forum the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both countries have made two joint submissions at the WTO as co-sponsors during the past few months. In June, Pakistan joined India, Cuba, and 44 African countries, seeking sufficient flexibility in intellectual property rights for developing countries to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. In July, the same group of countries again submitted a communication to the WTO on strengthening the intergovernmental organisation to promote development and inclusivity.

    ALSO READ | Partition has turned India, Pakistan into sorrowful countries: BJP leader

    Sharif brings up India at meet with the Aussie envoy

    In a meeting with Australia’s newly appointed ambassador in Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he aspires to have peaceful bilateral ties with India. He also spoke about a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. This is the first time since Sharif came to power that he has expressed a desire to have peaceful bilateral relations with India.

  • PM Modi calls for SCO template to fight radicalisation, extremism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for developing a template by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to effectively deal with the challenges of extremism and radicalisation.

    In a virtual address at the annual SCO summit, Modi said the “root cause” of the problems facing the region is increasing radicalisation and the developments in Afghanistan reflected the challenge.

    “I believe that the biggest challenges in this area are related to peace, security and trust deficit. And the root cause of these problems is the increasing radicalisation. The recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge more clear,” he said.

    The prime minister said the SCO should develop a template to fight radicalisation and extremism.

    Modi said the SCO should work to develop a strong network among moderate, tolerant and inclusive institutions and traditions associated with Islam.

    He said the fight against radicalisation is not only needed for regional security and trust but also required to ensure a bright future for the youth of the region.

    The prime minister also said that India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia.

    At the same time, he also said that any connectivity initiative cannot be a “one-way street” and connectivity projects should be consultative, transparent and participatory.

    He also welcomed Iran as a new member country of the SCO.