Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday participated in the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, calling for stronger cooperation on security, connectivity and development while urging member countries to take committed action against terrorism.
The summit, held from August 31 to September 1 in the Kyrgyz Republic, coincides with the 25th anniversary of the SCO. Leaders reviewed the organisation’s progress and discussed ways to strengthen its role in promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.
In his address, PM Modi thanked Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov for his warmth and hospitality and said the SCO’s 25th anniversary provided an opportunity to prepare a roadmap for the next 25 years, building on the organisation’s tradition of dialogue and cooperation.
Recalling India’s vision presented at the previous summit, the Prime Minister said the grouping should now work towards achieving concrete outcomes under the three pillars of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
On security, PM Modi reiterated India’s position that conflicts cannot be resolved through military means and that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward. He described terrorism as a grave threat to humanity and called for determined efforts to dismantle the entire terror ecosystem.
The Prime Minister also stressed that there should be no double standards in the fight against terrorism, underlining the need for a united approach to the challenge.
Highlighting the importance of Afghanistan to regional security, PM Modi said peace and stability in Afghanistan were closely linked to security in the Eurasian region. He also highlighted India’s development and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
On connectivity, PM Modi said strong and trusted connectivity initiatives were essential for shared progress and prosperity among SCO countries. India, he said, supports efforts that connect markets, enhance trade and open new opportunities for development.
At the same time, he reiterated that connectivity initiatives must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the opportunities created by technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and start-ups, along with stronger people-to-people exchanges among SCO countries. He appreciated the focus on youth engagement under Kyrgyzstan’s presidency.
PM Modi said India would be pleased to host the first edition of the SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later this year. The forum is an Indian initiative aimed at promoting civilisational exchanges among SCO member states.
The Bishkek Summit adopted the Bishkek Declaration, along with four Memoranda of Understanding and more than 20 decisions and statements covering areas including climate, nuclear safety, energy conservation and combating drug addiction.
India also led and supported several initiatives incorporated into the Bishkek Declaration. These included English as an official language in the SCO Charter, the Civilisation Dialogue Forum, the Young Scientist Forum and the Young Author’s Conclave.
The Prime Minister thanked President Zhaparov for the successful organisation of the summit and reaffirmed India’s commitment to working with the SCO family for shared progress and prosperity.
