Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) 21st summit. PM Modi, who is leading the Indian delegation, addressed the SCO Summit plenary session via video link, while External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is representing the country at the summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
In view of the Covid-19 outbreak, the SCO summit is being held in a hybrid format, with some members physically present and others participating via video links.
PM Modi began his remarks by welcoming the SCO's newest member, Iran, as well as three new conversation partners, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. With the addition of Iran, the SCO now has nine full members, in addition to China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. The PM stated that the SCO's expansion demonstrates the organization's rising influence and that with the addition of new members, the SCO will become more powerful and credible.
According to Narendra Modi, the region's major challenges are related to a lack of peace, security, and trust, and the primary cause of these issues is rising radicalization. He went on to say that recent events in Afghanistan have highlighted this concern even more and that the SCO should take the lead in addressing it.
PM Modi stated that the Central Asia region has been a cornerstone of moderate and progressive cultures and values and that the SCO should build a shared blueprint to combat radicalization and extremism based on Central Asia's historic foundation. He stated that there are moderate, tolerant, and inclusive Islamic organisations and traditions in India and other SCO countries. He proposed that SCO try to establish a network of similar institutions.
In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister pledged India its full cooperation in the connection initiatives and stated that his ideas on radicalization, connectivity, and people-to-people relations will improve the SCO's capabilities.
On the fringes of the meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He also met with equivalents from Iran, Armenia, and Uzbekistan, with whom he exchanged views on current developments in Afghanistan.
Input - Newsbharati
