Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Sept 16, conveyed a congratulatory message to India for
assuming the SCO presidency for the next year.
Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated India for hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, next year.
“We will support India for its presidency next year”, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his remarks at the ongoing SCO Summit at Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Participating at the summit, Prime Minister Modi said that the SCO member countries should grant rights to transit and improve connectivity.
Modi’s reference was clearly to Pakistan. He also flagged the impact on global supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the energy and food security issues.
At a time of global turbulence in the wake of Russia-Ukraine conflict and also China’s posturing over Taiwan, Mr Modi visit to Uzbekistan and the ongoing Summit has importance of their own.
This is also the first in-person SCO summit since the leaders gathered at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan in June 2019. In 2020 and 2021 the summits were hosted in virtual format.
In a statement before leaving New Delhi, Modi said, “At the SCO Summit, I look forward to exchanging views on topical, regional and international issues, the expansion of SCO and further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the Organisation”.
Key summit documents including the Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation; Concept of Cooperation on the Development of Interconnectivity and Creation of Efficient Transport Corridors; Program for Stimulating Industrial Cooperation and Regulations on the honorary title of ‘Goodwill Ambassador of the SCO’ are expected to get their due importance and endorsement.
There is a possibility of a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping. This will be seen and analysed in the light of the latest round of disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops at Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area of eastern Ladakh.
PM Modi and Indian foreign policy engine room will be all keen to host the next year’s SCO Summit and make it a grand success.
