In news
20th Summit of SCO Council of Heads of State was held on November 10, 2020 (in Video Conference Format).
Participants
- The Meeting was chaired by the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led the Indian delegation.
- The other SCO Member States were represented by their Presidents, while India and Pakistan were represented at the level of Prime Minister. Other participants were: Secretary-General of the SCO Secretariat, Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, the Presidents of the four Observers (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia) of the SCO.
Highlights
This is the first Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit that is being beld in the virtual format and the third meeting that India is participating in as a full member of the SCO.
Topic of concern
- Reformed multilateralism: India, as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, will focus on the theme of reformed multilateralism to bring about desirable changes in global governance.
- This is imperative to meet the expectation of a world suffering from the social and financial after-effects of the pandemic.
- India’s firm belief in regional peace: This will promote security and prosperity and raising voice against terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs and money-laundering.
- Respect territorial integrity and sovereignty: In an indirect reference to the Chinese infrastructure projects in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, India urged members of the SCO to respect “territorial integrity” and “sovereignty”.
- Strong cultural and historical connect: India has strong links with the SCO region and has a firm commitment towards strengthening connectivity in the region with initiatives like International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port and Ashgabat Agreement.
- SCO Year of Culture: India also extended full support to observing the 20th anniversary of SCO in 2021 as the "SCO Year of Culture.
India and SCO
- India had become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2017. Prior to that, India had an observer status, which was granted to it in 2005.
- India has maintained extensive engagement in various fields under the SCO framework in the past three years.
- The SCO Summit of Heads of State aims to set forth the agenda and the main directions for the organization for the next year.
- The meeting will cover all key areas of the organisation's activity including political, security, trade, economic and cultural.
Significance
The SCO Summit is expected to end with the adoption of the Moscow Declaration. The SCO is also expected to make statements on issues including the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of World War II, COVID-19, push for Digital Economy, and countering the spread of global terrorism including on the internet and countering drug threats.
