New Delhi [India], September 17 : Highlighting the threats posed by the rising radicalisation in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the biggest challenges faced by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are related to peace, security and concerns regarding trust deficit. While addressing the Plenary Session of the 21st Meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State, PM Modi said, “The biggest challenges in this area are related to peace, security and trust deficit. The main cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation. Recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge clear.” Referring to the historical trends, Prime Minister Modi said the region of Central Asia has been a bastion of moderate and progressive cultures and values. “Traditions like Sufism flourished here over the centuries and spread throughout the region and the world. We can still see their image in the cultural heritage of this region.”
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"Warmly received at the 21st Meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State by Tajik leadership. Honoured to represent PM Narendra Modi in Dushanbe, Tajikistan," tweets External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/Lveyxxg4CX
Keeping in view the 20th anniversary of SCO forum, Prime Minister said that the members’ countries must encourage our talented youngsters towards science and rational thinking. “We can bring our startups and entrepreneurs together to make the innovative spirit towards making India a stakeholder in an emerging technology.” Underlining the importance of connectivity in the region, PM Modi said that any connectivity initiative cannot be one-way. “To ensure mutual trust, connectivity projects should be consultative, transparent and participatory. There should be respect for the territorial integrity of all countries.” “India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India’s vast market,” he added. During the address Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Iran as a new member country of the SCO. He also welcomed the three new dialogue partners – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar.
Respect territorial integrity while enhancing regional connectivity
Expressing India’s commitment to increase connectivity with Central Asia at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the member nations to enhance regional connectivity by respecting the territorial integrity of nations. Emphasising that trsansparency must exist involving the connectivity projects in the region to build mutual trust, PM Modi said, “Connectivity projects must be consultative, transparent, and participatory to ensure mutual trust. It must respect the territorial integrity of all nations and SCO should form norms for connectivity projects based on these principles.” While addressing the Plenary Session of the 21st Meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State, PM Modi also said that Central Asia has been a connectivity bridge among major regional markets in ancient times and it was the main reason for prosperity in Central Asia. “We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can gain benefits by directly entering into the Indian markets. Unfortunatinspiredous connectivity options are not open for them,” he stressed. The SCO is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It’s the first SCO Summit being held in a hybrid format and the fourth Summit that India has participated as a full-fledged member of SCO. The meeting is being chaired by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. He also added that India’s investment in Iran’s Chabahar Port and efforts towards the International North-South Corridor are inspired by these realities. “Through this, we can re-establish the older connectivity of this region. And then, connectivity projects will strengthen our ties,” he stressed. Prime Minister also asked member nations to tackle extremism in the region. “SCO should develop a shared template to fight radicalism and extremism,” he added
Jaishankar meets Russian counterpart Lavrov at SCO summit, discusses Afghanistan
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar met Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Dushanbe and discussed contemporary issues, including Afghanistan. Jaishankar is on a visit to Tajikistan to attend the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO’s) Heads of State Summit in Dushanbe. “Always good to meet Russian FM Sergey Lavrov. A useful discussion on contemporary issues, including Afghanistan, before the commencement of the SCO Summit,” Jaishankar tweeted. Earlier today, Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi also met. Jaishankar underlined that it was necessary to ensure progress in the resolution of remaining issues so as to restore peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. During the meeting on the sidelines of the 21st SCO Summit, both Ministers agreed that “military and diplomatic officials of both sides should meet again and continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues (along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh) at the earliest.” On Thursday, Jaishankar had met with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev and agreed to strengthen traditional cooperation on regional and multilateral issues between both countries. “Delighted to meet Kyrgyz Republic FM Ruslan Kazakbaev. Noted our growing development partnership. Agreed to strengthen our traditional cooperation on regional and multilateral issues,” Jaishankar tweeted. Tajikistan is the chair of the SCO meeting.
