External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to lead the Indian delegation at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from July 3-4. This announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly briefing earlier today.
India, which held the SCO presidency last year, passed the baton to Kazakhstan, the current host nation. Notably, the summit will mark a return to physical meetings after the virtual sessions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. Last year, India hosted the SCO summit virtually in July 2023.
In preparation for the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently engaged in a telephonic conversation with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June 25. During the call, PM Modi extended his gratitude for Tokayev’s warm wishes and reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing bilateral strategic partnerships. The leaders also expressed confidence in Kazakhstan’s leadership in fostering regional cooperation.
President Tokayev has proposed several initiatives for this year’s summit, including the establishment of a joint investment fund among SCO member states. This proposal aligns with the SCO’s core objectives of enhancing regional security, counter-terrorism efforts, and fostering economic cooperation.
The SCO, established in 2001, comprises China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran attained full membership in 2023 during India’s presidency, while Belarus holds observer status and aims for full membership in the future. The organisation spans over 60% of the Eurasian landmass, represents 40% of the world’s population, and contributes 30% to global GDP.
As India prepares to participate actively under Minister Jaishankar’s leadership, expectations are high for fruitful discussions and collaborative efforts towards regional stability and economic integration at the upcoming SCO summit in Astana.
Sources By Agencies
