Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a virtual summit with world leaders, including Shehbaz Sharif, Xi Jinping, and Putin
The virtual summit will be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and feature a distinguished group of world leaders. Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other illustrious heads of state from the SCO’s member countries will attend the much awaited occasion.
The virtual summit, held while India is holding the SCO presidency, intends to address important regional security issues and look into ways to improve connectivity and trade among member nations. President Putin’s first multilateral summit since a recent armed uprising by a mercenary group that sent shockwaves across Moscow will be this historic gathering.
Notably, Iran will officially join the SCO at the summit, becoming the group’s newest permanent member and increasing its prominence on the world arena. A wide range of subjects, such as the situation in Afghanistan, the current war in Ukraine, and methods for fostering collaboration among SCO member countries, are anticipated to be discussed during the event. In addition, as there is so much potential for economic cooperation within the union, leaders will concentrate on enhancing connectivity and commerce.
The conference is made all the more significant by the ongoing border impasse between Indian and Chinese forces in eastern Ladakh. This online meeting, which takes place barely two weeks after Prime Minister Modi’s high-profile trip to the United States, offers a special chance for important players to discuss bilateral issues and promote greater regional stability.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which consists of India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, has grown to be one of the biggest transregional international organisations. In September of last year, India took over as the SCO’s rotating chairman, reiterating its commitment to fostering regional development and cooperation.
The summit will be led by the inspiring vision of Prime Minister Modi and follow the theme “Towards an SECURE SCO.” It stands for Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment, and was created by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO summit. These ideals will be advanced through the virtual conference, which will also promote improved member-nation cooperation and understanding.
The heads of six international and regional organisations will attend the historic summit in addition to the SCO secretariat and SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure). The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) are just a few of the illustrious invitees. This wide-ranging representation demonstrates the SCO’s dedication to promoting deeper regional cooperation.
During India’s SCO chairmanship, significant advancements have been made in a number of areas. Five new organisational cooperation pillars, centred on startups and innovation, conventional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and common Buddhist heritage, have been established thanks to New Delhi. These initiatives have received positive feedback and are expected to significantly advance the SCO’s future goals.
India has placed a major emphasis on fostering relationships between people, guided by Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, which upholds the notion that the world is one family. The summit will serve as a forum for strengthening these links and creating channels for communication and collaboration between various cultures and societies.
