India to host SCO Heads of State meeting on 4 July in virtual format
1 min read 30 May 2023, 08:25 PM ISTThe meeting of the leaders from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will take place in virtual format
PremiumIndia is set to host the 22nd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State on 4 July 2023, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting of the leaders from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will take place in virtual format. India holds the Chairmanship of the body this year.
“All the SCO Member States, viz. China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, have been invited to attend the Summit. In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as Observer States. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the Chair. Heads of the two SCO Bodies – the Secretariat and the SCO RATS - will also be present. Further, Heads of six international and regional organizations have also been invited, viz. UN, ASEAN, CIS, CSTO, EAEU and CICA," according to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs.
“The theme of the Summit is ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’. The SECURE acronym was coined by the Prime Minister at the 2018 SCO Summit and stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during our Chairmanship of SCO," the press release goes on to say.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional intergovernmental organization established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China. It was originally founded by six member states: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Later, in 2017, India and Pakistan joined as full members, expanding the SCO’s reach and influence.
The primary goals of the SCO are to promote regional stability, security, and economic cooperation among its member states. The organization focuses on addressing common security challenges, including terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
“India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its Chairmanship - Startups and Innovation; Traditional Medicine; Digital Inclusion; Youth Empowerment; and Shared Buddhist Heritage. In addition, India has worked towards fostering greater people to people ties that celebrate the historical and civilizational bonds between our nations. These include the various socio-cultural events hosted by Varanasi under the framework of the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital for 2022-23," says the MEA.
During its Chairmanship of the body, India has hosted 134 meetings and events. This includes 14 Ministerial-level meetings.
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