Virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told SCO leaders today that there must not be any double standards in combating terrorist activities and that the bloc must not hesitate to criticize countries that support cross-border terrorism as part of state policy.
With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in attendance, PM Modi stated at a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that urgent action is required to combat terrorism and terror financing.
“Terrorism has become a threat to regional and global peace”, Prime Minister Modi said, urging for greater mutual collaboration to combat the threat.
“We must fight terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations”, PM Modi stated, emphasizing that there must be no double standards in the fight against terrorism.
Leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran also joined the virtual summit hosted by India.
PM Modi, who presided over the meeting, also discussed major global concerns.
The food, fuel, and fertilizer problem, which is surrounded by debates, conflicts, and epidemics, is a major challenge for all countries throughout the world, he added, and it requires coordinated efforts to address it.
Concerning the situation in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Modi stated that India’s concerns and aspirations are identical to those of the majority of SCO members.
According to the Prime Minister, the SCO has emerged as a major platform for Eurasia’s peace, prosperity, and development.
He stated that India’s thousands of years of cultural and people-to-people ties with this region (Eurasia) are a living testament to our shared heritage.
“As SCO chair, India has made consistent efforts to push our multidimensional collaboration to new heights”, he noted.
PM Modi stated that India has established five cooperation pillars within the SCO, which include startup and innovation, traditional medicine, youth development, digital inclusion, and common Buddhist heritage.
He stated that India supports the proposal for SCO reform and modernization.
“I am delighted that Iran will become a new member of the SCO”, he remarked.
The Prime Minister also praised the signing of Belarus’ Memorandum of Obligation for SCO membership.
During the Indian presidency, a number of landmark events were held with the goal of deepening people-to-people connections.
India has shown a strong desire to expand its security cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which especially addresses security and military concerns.
The SCO was established in 2001 during a summit in Shanghai by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
India became a member of the SCO as an observer country in 2005.
In 2017, India and Pakistan were admitted as full members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
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