New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will head the Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The event is set to be held from July 3-4 in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital.
Earlier on June 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his full support for the success of the upcoming SCO summit in a telephonic conversation with the President of Kazakhstan. During the discussion, both leaders reiterated their commitment to advancing bilateral strategic partnerships. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Kazakhstan’s leadership would significantly contribute to enhancing regional cooperation.
Kazakhstan took over the SCO presidency from India, which was the president last year. India hosted the SCO summit virtually in July 2023. This year’s host is Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has proposed, among other initiatives, the establishment of a joint investment fund.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a political, economic, and security group that was established in 2001. The current members of the SCO are China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran became a full member in 2023, under the Indian Presidency of the grouping. Belarus is an observer state and is next in line to gain full membership.
The SCO is focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation among its member states. The organisation covers over 60 per cent of the Eurasian landmass, 40 per cent of the world population, and 30 per cent of global GDP.
