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Stage set for crucial SCO meet

The ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and effective multilateralism…reports Asian Lite News

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meeting on April 28 in New Delhi.

Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting. India has invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
The Defence Minister of Pakistan would be participating virtually.

The ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and effective multilateralism.

Raksha Mantri will be holding bilateral meetings with the participating Defence ministers on April 27 and 28 where bilateral defence-related issues and other matters of mutual interest will be discussed.

India has ancient civilisational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries. India’s membership of SCO in 2017, was, therefore, a reaffirmation of New Delhi’s keenness to deepen these historic ties.

India considers SCO as an important regional group to promote multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region.

India continues to bring more ideas and initiatives to strengthen cooperation amongst SCO countries. Under its chairmanship, this year, India organised two defence-related activities to enhance interoperability amongst SCO member-states.

The first was a workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and the second was a seminar on SCO countries’ defence think-tanks on the issue of Armed Forces contributing to Military Medicine, Healthcare and Pandemics.

India stands committed to taking forward the Agenda of SCO under its chairmanship.

General Li Shangfu. (Photo:Twittre)

Chinese Defence Minister lands in India

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting scheduled to be held on Friday in the National Capital.

Li Shangfu will also take part in the bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.
This is the first visit by the Chinese Defence Minister following the border transgression in Galwan.

India and China recently held the 18th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side.

India, and China during the 18th round of Corps Commander Level Meeting, agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector of the LAC.

The meeting took place after a gap of five months. The last meeting between the two sides at the Corps Commander level was held in December last year.

Meanwhile, the Indian Defence Minister is also likely to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. The Russian Defence Minister last visited India for the first India-Russia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in December 2021.

Iranian counterpart arrives

Iranian Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani arrived in Delhi on Thursday to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held on Friday.

The minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will likely meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

Earlier, Sergei Shoigu visited India in December 2021 for the first India-Russia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

ALSO READ: Iranian Defence Minister in India to attend SCO meet

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Iranian Defence Minister in India to attend SCO meet

The minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani arrived in Delhi on Thursday to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held on Friday.

The minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will likely meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

Earlier, Sergei Shoigu visited India in December 2021 for the first India-Russia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The Defence Ministers will discuss matters concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and effective multilateralism, said the Ministry of Defence in an official statement.

The theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘Secure-SCO’. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region.

Meanwhile, Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu also arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting.

Li Shangfu will also take part in the bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

This is the first visit by the Chinese Defence Minister following the border transgression in Galwan.

India and China recently held the 18th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side.

India, and China during the 18th round of Corps Commander Level Meeting, agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector of the LAC.

The meeting took place after a gap of five months. The last meeting between the two sides at the Corps Commander level was held in December last year.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001. The SCO members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India. Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran will also be participating in the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting.

The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilizational linkages, and is considered India’s extended neighbourhood. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Iran, Saudi Arabia resume trade as ties thaw

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China’s defence minister to visit Delhi for SCO meet

Following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, this is the first time that a Chinese Defence Minister will visit India…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu will make his maiden visit to India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting planned to be held this week, said Chinese Defence Ministry.

The Chinese Defence Ministry said that from Thursday to Friday (April 27, 28), the Chinese Defence Minister will take part in SCO and will make a speech and meet with the head of delegations from other countries. Global Times, in a tweet, said, “Chinese State Councilor and Defence Minister Li Shangfu will attend a defence ministers’ meeting among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation from Thursday to Friday in India. He will make a speech and meet with head of delegations from other countries: Chinese Defence Ministry.”

Following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, this is the first time that a Chinese Defence Minister will visit India.

Li Shangfu, a US-sanctioned general, was named as China’s new Defence Minister a month ago. Li has been under US sanctions since 2018 and his appointment comes at a time of increasingly strained relations between Beijing and Washington.

Li Shangfu, an aerospace expert, was voted unanimously by the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress to replace outgoing defence chief Wei Fenghe.

China and India have a long history of border transgressions and a recent one was witnessed in December 2022 in Arunachal Pradesh.

Prior to that, a clash was witnessed in Galwan in June 2020 when the Chinese troops tried to aggressively change the status quo on LAC in eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers died in the Galwan Valley clash which was fought in hand-to-hand combat in sub-zero temperatures on the near pitch-black night of June 15 and June 16, 2020.

Rajnath likely to hold talks with Chinese counterpart

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart. Before the SCO meet, the 18th round of India-China Corps Commander level talks held on Sunday, but it failed to make headway on the contentious issue of the Depsang Plains and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The repeated attempts by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to violate the LAC, leading to tension in Ladakh, spurred the institution of the Corps Commander-level meetings.

While the two sides agreed on mutual withdrawals from Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs, the Depsang Plains and Demchok remain points of contention and tension.

The Defence Ministers will discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism. According to the Defence Ministry officials, the theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘SECURE-SCO’. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has share

Following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, this is the first time that a Chinese Defence Minister will visit India

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu will make his maiden visit to India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting planned to be held this week, said Chinese Defence Ministry.

The Chinese Defence Ministry said that from Thursday to Friday (April 27, 28), the Chinese Defence Minister will take part in SCO and will make a speech and meet with the head of delegations from other countries. Global Times, in a tweet, said, “Chinese State Councilor and Defence Minister Li Shangfu will attend a defence ministers’ meeting among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation from Thursday to Friday in India. He will make a speech and meet with head of delegations from other countries: Chinese Defence Ministry.”

Following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, this is the first time that a Chinese Defence Minister will visit India.

Li Shangfu, a US-sanctioned general, was named as China’s new Defence Minister a month ago. Li has been under US sanctions since 2018 and his appointment comes at a time of increasingly strained relations between Beijing and Washington.

Li Shangfu, an aerospace expert, was voted unanimously by the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress to replace outgoing defence chief Wei Fenghe.

China and India have a long history of border transgressions and a recent one was witnessed in December 2022 in Arunachal Pradesh.

Prior to that, a clash was witnessed in Galwan in June 2020 when the Chinese troops tried to aggressively change the status quo on LAC in eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers died in the Galwan Valley clash which was fought in hand-to-hand combat in sub-zero temperatures on the near pitch-black night of June 15 and June 16, 2020.

Rajnath likely to hold talks with Chinese counterpart

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart. Before the SCO meet, the 18th round of India-China Corps Commander level talks held on Sunday, but it failed to make headway on the contentious issue of the Depsang Plains and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The repeated attempts by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to violate the LAC, leading to tension in Ladakh, spurred the institution of the Corps Commander-level meetings.

While the two sides agreed on mutual withdrawals from Pangong Tso, Gogra, and Hot Springs, the Depsang Plains and Demchok remain points of contention and tension.

The Defence Ministers will discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism. According to the Defence Ministry officials, the theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘SECURE-SCO’. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. The ongoing engagement with SCO has helped India promote its relations with the countries in the region with which India has shared civilisational linkages, and is considered India’s extended neighbourhood civilisational linkages, and is considered India’s extended neighbourhood.

ALSO READ-Pak Defence Minister to skip SCO meet in Delhi

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SCO, BRICS Expansion: Reshaping Global Power Dynamics

As SCO and BRICS members, how Saudi Arabia and Iran can change East-West balance of power.(photo:IN)

Even though the grouping still has to decide regarding the actual launch of the expansion, Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in BRICS is already signalling a major change in the geopolitical architecture of the region, reports Ateet Sharma

When Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud spoke over the phone on Friday, they did not just discuss topical bilateral topics and issues such as fixing oil prices in the world market. Also on the agenda was Riyadh’s possible role in the powerful Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) grouping.

Stating that the telephone conversation was held at the initiative of the Saudi side, the Kremlin revealed that “prospects for cooperation” between Saudi Arabia and the BRICS association were also discussed between the two leaders.

Over the past few years, there has been a strong demand from emerging market countries to deepen interaction with BRICS which brings together five major emerging economies comprising more than 40 per cent of the world population, 25 per cent of the global economy and more than 18 per cent share in the world trade.

BRICS members have intensified discussions on an expansion process, setting a course for the further development of cooperation between the ‘five’ and interested developing countries in the ‘outreach’ and ‘BRICS Plus’ formats.

Even though the grouping still has to decide regarding the actual launch of the expansion, Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in BRICS is already signalling a major change in the geopolitical architecture of the region.

Iran, another country having major natural gas reserves, has already made its intentions clear on joining BRICS, saying the economic bloc has been able to shape new trends in the world by providing appropriate models and initiatives.

The 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

“Conflicting global trends, unilateralism, nationalistic partialities, and challenges such as sanctions and coercive economic action underscore the importance of creating and strengthening new institutions alongside the United Nations, while respecting the sovereignty and national interests of nations, in order to take important steps towards the realization of a society with a common future,” said Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a speech at the 2022 summit of the BRICS Business Forum, attended by the group’s top leaders.

South Africa, which currently holds the BRICS presidency and was the last country among the five to join the grouping in 2011, has kept ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism’ as the theme of its chairship.

The expansion of BRICS membership is expected to be a major point of discussion during the 15th BRICS Summit that will take place in Durban, later this year.

After returning from a state visit to the Saudi Kingdom last October, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned Saudi Arabia’s keenness in joining the BRICS group.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

“The Crown Prince did express Saudi Arabia’s desire to be part of BRICS… A number of countries are making approaches to BRICS members, and we have given them the same answer, that it will be discussed by the BRICS partners and thereafter a decision will be made,” Ramaphosa was quoted as saying by the local media.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia could also play a big role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) – another significant multilateral organisation the presidency of which is currently held by India.

While Iran became a permanent SCO member after the Samarkand Summit last year, Riyadh also decided to join the organisation as a dialogue partner last month.

Established regional leaders, with a huge following among Sunnis and Shias, the presence of the two countries in non-western groupings could majorly impact the balance of power between the emerging and Western economies, with significant geopolitical consequences.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: Iran sets target of trade with Saudi at $1bn

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India attaches special importance to SCO meet, says Shah

Farmagudi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses during a public meeting in Farmagudi,on Sunday, April 16, 2023.(Photo:IANS/Twitter)

He said the forecast not only warns India about the disaster but also predicts the potential impact it is likely to cause…reports Asian Lite News

India attaches special importance to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in promoting dialogue on multi-dimensional political, security and economic subjects, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

He said this while chairing a meeting of Heads of Departments of SCO member states responsible for Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations in New Delhi.

He said India’s priority as the chair of the SCO is to take forward the SECURE theme articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Qingdao Summit of the grouping in 2018.

SECURE stands S – Security, E – Economic Cooperation, C – Connectivity, U – Unity, R – Respect For Sovereignty and Integrity and E – Environment Protection.

Under the leadership of PM Modi, India attaches special importance to the SCO in promoting dialogue on the subject relating to multi-dimensional political, security and economic subjects, an official statement said.

Shah said India attaches special importance to disaster risk reduction and is ready to share its expertise and experience in this field for greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO member states. He said India believes that no hazard is small or big and it does not leave anyone behind.

Shah said India now has more accurate and timely early warning system in place and the country has seen a sea change in the way its early warning systems (EWS) of drought, flood, lightning, heat wave, cold wave, cyclone, have improved.

He said the forecast not only warns India about the disaster but also predicts the potential impact it is likely to cause.

According to Shah, at the time of a natural disaster, it is of great importance how quickly the relief reaches the affected area and this speed reflects the preparedness of the team and the efficiency of their training.

He said India has been associated with the SCO since 2005 and playing an important role as an observer country, since then. At the 17th Summit in 2017, India became a full member of the SCO as part of an important step in the process of expansion of this organization.

Shah said it is a matter of pride that India is donning the mantle of the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the very first time since becoming a full-fledged member state in 2017.

He said the SCO will probably be the largest regional organisation in the world at this time, representing 40 per cent of the global population, 25 per cent of the global GDP and 22 per cent of the world’s total land area.

Today, the SCO has developed into an international organization and it has provided an excellent platform for harmonising cooperation with all member countries, he said.

He said each and every life, family and their livelihood are priceless and all possible efforts should be made to protect it.

He said India’s approach to early warning system is people-centric and we want to ensure that our forecasting and warning system is not just scientifically advanced but it is also communicated in a manner that is understandable, usable and actionable by common people.

ALSO READ-Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in India

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Pakistan apprehensive of India’s intentions over SCO participation

The all-important SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting is scheduled to be held in Delhi later this month, while the Foreign Ministers’ meeting will take place in Goa in May…writes Hamza Ameer

In the wake of contemplations over Pakistan attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in India, suspicions are prevailing that New Delhi may create hurdles for Islamabad to send its delegates.

The concerns are part of initial assessments by the Pakistan Foreign office, whose official sources maintained that while it was considering the invitation extended by India as its capacity as the SCO President for the upcoming meetings of Defence and Foreign Ministers; they were also concerned over the Narendra Modi-led government’s unwillingness to have delegates from Islamabad in attendance.

The all-important SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting is scheduled to be held in Delhi later this month, while the Foreign Ministers’ meeting will take place in Goa in May.

“We have not yet arrived at a final decision. However, there is a feeling that even if Pakistan intends to send its ministers, the Modi government may create a situation where it will become difficult for us to attend the SCO meetings,” said a source with knowledge of the development.

One of the reasons behind Islamabad’s suspicion is also in relation to recent events in which, India virtually withdrew Pakistan’s invitation on an expert-level meeting and objected over the map Pakistani delegation used during the preparatory meeting.

“The map showed the whole of Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory, something that India objected to,” the source said.

Moreover, India has just recently refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and demanded Pakistan to change the venue of the tournament to a neutral one.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly protested over India’s refusal to play in Pakistan and has warned that India’s position may affect Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming World Cup being hosted by India.

The PCB has also taken up the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“All of this reflected that the Indian government was not keen on even to revive sporting ties let alone engaging with Pakistan on regional forums,” the source maintained.

ALSO READ: PAKISTAN: Economic Misery Creates Fertile Breeding Ground For Terrorism

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SCO member to promote traditional medicine  

It is in this light that the Guwahati SCO B2B Conference and Expo acquire importance and could take the momentum further…reports Asian Lite News

The B2B Conference and Expo, along with the National Arogya Summit, held in Guwahati recently under the aegis of the Ministry of Ayush under India’s presidency of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), has successfully brought together 25 SCO countries to promote Traditional Medicine so as that it can contribute in the economic development, environment protection and achieve the goal of Health Security among the SCO nations, read an official release.

According to the release, the event was attended by H.E. Dr Thet Khaing Win, the minister for Health, Myanmar, H.E. Safiyya Mohamed Saeed, the deputy minister for Health, Maldives and Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai, MoS for Ayush and also saw the participation of China, Russia and Pakistan in technical sessions in virtual mode. The event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. India attained the SCO full member status in 2017 and after assuming the presidency of SCO Council of Heads of State for the year 2023 on September 17 2022 at Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had remarked that India would take the initiative for a new SCO Expert Working Group on Traditional Medicine, the release added.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Ayush has taken various initiatives on Traditional Medicine during India’s SCO Presidency — it organised a virtual conference of experts and practitioners of Traditional Medicine, conducted the First Expert Working Group (EWG) on Traditional Medicine wherein Draft Regulations of the EWG on Traditional Medicine were approved at an expert level and will be further subjected to other respective country administrative procedures and finally to be adopted at the Head of the States Summit.

It is in this light that the Guwahati SCO B2B Conference and Expo acquire importance and could take the momentum further.

On the sidelines of the SCO B2B conference, the Ministry of Ayush also had a bilateral meeting with Myanmar to discuss cooperation on Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine. An MoU was signed between the Ministry of Ayush, India and the Ministry of Health, Myanmar on 29th August 2016, which is automatically extended and valid up till 28th August 2026.

The Indian side was led by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ayush and Ports, Shipping & waterways. Myanmar’s side was led by H.E. Dr Thet Khaing Win, Minister, Ministry of Health, Myanmar.

The conference was attended by a total of 214 participants, of which 83 were international delegates from 16 SCO countries and 131 were Indian delegates. A total of 30 presentations were made during the said event of which 19 were from SCO countries. Eleven presentations were delivered by the Indian side, including presentations from the Ministry of Ayush and the industry, read the release. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Doval raises concern over terror financing at SCO

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Doval raises concern over terror financing at SCO

New Delhi, Mar 29 (ANI): National Security Advisor Ajit Doval welcomes the top officials as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) level NSA meeting started, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

Doval, in his remarks also called upon the member states to have mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states…reports Asian Lite News

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday said that terrorism in all of its forms and its financing are amongst the most serious threats to international peace and security.

He made the remarks at the 18th meeting of the Secretaries of Security Council of SCO member states, underlining that any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, is unjustifiable. “Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and its financing are amongst the most serious threats to international peace and security. Any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, is unjustifiable,” Doval said during his opening remarks at the Shanghai Group Meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynX2xA8yBY&t=6s

Doval, in his remarks also called upon the member states to have mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states.

“The Charter calls upon member states to have mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity of states, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations, and seeking no unilateral military superiority in areas,” he added.

Speaking further, the NSA thanked the top delegates for accepting his invitation to the meeting and said the participation of officials will not only enrich the discussions but also prepare the ground for a successful summit in a few months’ time.

Regarding connectivity, he said that it remains a key priority for India.

“We stand ready to cooperate on investing in and building connectivity in the region. Expanding connectivity is also important to ensure that such initiatives are constituted,” he said.

Doval also underlined that India’s foreign policy is based on these very principles and reflects “our commitment in every possible manner”. He also highlighted the issue of Chabahar port during the meeting.

“India is committed to fulfilling its obligations in the under the International North-South Transport Corridor and the inclusion of the Port within the framework of INSTC,” Doval stated. India became a member of SCO in June’17, but our relations with SCO countries go back several centuries, he added.

ALSO READ-India to host SCO NSA meet

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India to host SCO NSA meet

New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval addresses during the first India-Central Asia meeting of the National Security Advisers/Secretaries of Security Councils, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

The eight-member countries of SCO represent around 42% of the world’s total population and 25% of the global GDP…reports Asian Lite News

India, as the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), will host a meeting of national security advisors (NSA) and top officials in the national capital on Wednesday.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will make opening remarks before the SCO NSA-level meeting that is scheduled to be held today. Pakistan has also decided to participate in the National Security Advisor meeting of the SCO, which is being hosted by India, according to a source. The mode of participation is yet to be finalised, the source said further. Sources said the Pakistan representatives will also participate in the meeting.

The next important SCO meet will be the defence ministers’ meet from April 27-29, to be hosted in Delhi.

The next SCO meet is the Foreign Ministers meet that would be held in Goa on May 4 and 5 and the SCO Summit in July – which is likely to see the participation of heads of states of SCO members.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001 and it comprises eight member states, namely, India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India became a full member of SCO on 9th June, 2017. There are four Observer States viz Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia and six dialogue partners – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a major regional powerhouse that was established over two decades ago with the aim of promoting economic, political, and military cooperation among its member nations

The eight-member countries of SCO represent around 42 per cent of the world’s total population and 25 per cent of the global GDP.

Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushev, will attend the annual meeting of the secretaries of security councils of SCO member states in New Delhi on Wednesday, according to a statement by Russian Security Council, a Russian embassy official confirmed to ANI.

As India currently holds the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) presidency, it expects all member countries including Pakistan to attend the events under its SCO chairmanship, the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a press briefing in February.

“We hold the current presidency of SCO. As customary, we extend invites to all SCO countries including Pakistan. We expect them all to attend the events,” Bagchi said in response to a question on India’s SCO invite to Pakistan.

“I think Pakistani officials might have attended such events. I don’t know who all have confirmed. We’ll let you know closer to the date,” Bagchi added while speaking during the MEA weekly media briefing.

The invitation has been extended to SCO members including the new Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

India has formally sent invitations to all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) including Pakistan and China for the upcoming SCO meeting which will be held in Goa from May 4-5. While the SCO summit is set to take place in Goa this summer, India is holding a host of events leading up to it.

Earlier this month, Pakistan also attended the meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tourism administrations held in Kashi.

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Culture and Sports Yerzhan Yerkinbayev, China’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Lu Ying Chuan, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy Samat Bekturovich Shatmanov and Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Azamov Ulugbek Axmatovich, First Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Uzbekistan in person attended the meeting of heads of the SCO tourism administrations held in Kashi.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Evgenyvich Ilyichev, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic Development, Russia, Muminzod Kamoliddin, Chairman of the Tourism Development Committee, Tajikistan and Aun Chaudhry, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Tourism and Sports, Pakistan, virtually participated in the SCO meeting held in Kashi earlier this month, according to Tourism Ministry’s press release. (ANI)

Russia’s top official to take part  

Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Patrushev, will take part in the annual meeting of the secretaries of security councils of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) member states in New Delhi on Wednesday, according to a statement by Russian Security Council, a Russian embassy official confirmed.

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, international security and defence organisation. Meanwhile, it was also reported that Pakistan has decided to participate in the upcoming SCO National Security Advisor meeting which is being hosted by India, said a source, adding that the mode of participation is yet to be finalised.

On March 29, India will host the meetings of SCO national security advisers (NSA) and top national security officials in New Delhi.

NSA Ajit Doval is likely to make opening remarks before the SCO NSAs level meeting will begin on Wednesday.

Nikolai Patrushev

Earlier, Pakistan also participated in the Meeting of Heads of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tourism Administrations held in ‘Kashi’ (Varanasi).

G Kishan Reddy, Union minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, chaired the SCO Meeting. The action plan for ‘Year of Tourism Development in the SCO Space in 2023’ was also adopted at the meeting. (ANI)

ALSO READ-India gearing up to host SCO Summit in outreach to Eurasia

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Pakistan lauds India for SCO Buddhist heritage meet

Advisor to Pakistan Tourism Coordination Board said the conference presented a clear example of the role India was playing in bringing together countries with shared Buddhist heritage together…reports Asian Lite News

India’s civilisational connect with countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was in focus at a first of its kind international conference on “Shared Buddhist Heritage” that began in New Delhi on Tuesday and saw participation from Pakistan and China among others.

Being held under India’s leadership of the SCO, the two-day long event brought together Central Asian, East Asian, South Asian and Arab countries on a common platform and aims to re-establish trans-cultural links, seek out commonalities between Buddhist art of Central Asia, art styles, archaeological sites and antiquity in various museums’ collections of the SCO countries.

According to A Imran Shauket, Advisor to Pakistan Tourism Coordination Board, the conference presented a clear example of the role India was playing in bringing together countries with shared Buddhist heritage together.

“This session is just one very clear example of the wonderful role that India is actually playing in bringing all the countries of SCO, or let’s say all the countries with the Buddhist heritage together,” Shauket said.

Shauket who previously served as the focal person for Pakistan’s minister of archaeology and tourism, said: “I am very impressed on how hospitable India has been, how they’re bringing all the countries together. And India will always have a big role because, you know, Buddha was born in India, Buddhism originated from here.”

He said he looks forward to India, Pakistan and other countries working collectively to preserve, promote the common Buddhist heritage of countries.

“This Buddhist civilization, if we want to look at it, is actually the first binding glue that brings all these countries and the cultures together. It would be very nice to be able to go back in history and forget the differences and go back to how we were all connected then and how we can find the commonalities rather than the differences between all of our different cultures. And remember, at one time we were the same culture and we were the same people,” Shauket said.

The Advisor to Pakistan Tourism Coordination Board said that Pakistan is starting to do more and more on the Buddhist side also.

He said that Pakistan is trying to preserve and promote the culture, all the heritages, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist.

Shengliang Zhao, a researcher from China’s Dunhuang Research Academy and a participant at the conference stated that the event offered a huge opportunity for India and China to celebrate history.

“This is what makes India and China more close to each other. This time this conference gives a huge message of india and China coming together in all aspects culturally … peacefully. We will be moving ahead with this peaceful heritage further,” Zhao said in his remarks that were translated.

The two-day long conference was earlier today inagurated by Union Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy in the presence of Union minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital.

G Kishan Reddy honoured the participating delegates from SCO member countries.

India is holding the leadership of SCO for a period of one year, from September 17, 2022 till September 2023.

The conference has brought together Central Asian, East Asian, South Asian and Arab countries on a common platform to discuss “Shared Buddhist Heritage”.

More than 15 scholars and delegates from China’s Dunhuang Research Academy, Kyrgyzstan’s Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology, Russia’s State Museum of the History of Religion, Tajikistan’s National Museum of Antiquities, Belarusian State University and Myanmar’s International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, etc will be presenting research papers on topic during the 2-day event.

The programme is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of External Affairs and the International Buddhist Confederation, as a grantee body of the Ministry of Culture. A number of Indian scholars of Buddhism are also participating in the event.

The aim of the Conference is to re-establish trans-cultural links and seek out commonalities, between Buddhist art of Central Asia, art styles, archaeological sites and antiquity in various museums’ collections of the SCO countries.

The intergovernmental organisation SCO, founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 currently comprises of eight member states -China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, four observer states -Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia and six “Dialogue Partners” -Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey. The eight member countries of SCO represent around 42 per cent of the world population and 25 per cent of the global GDP. (ANI)

‘SCO nations keen on sustained dialogue on biofuels’

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on Tuesday said that Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members are bullish on requirement of biofuels and called for sustained negotiations on them.

Addressing media persons after virtually participating in the SCO meeting, he said that biofuels requirement was discussed during the deliberations, and all the eight SCO nations are of the view that there should be sustained discussions on biofuels.

China too had raised the issue of affordability during the discussions, the minister said.

Puri claimed that India is facing several issues on the energy front due to global markets volatility, and as a result of this, oil marketing companies are facing losses.

However, the oil companies have not passed on the higher price to the public, he added.

Fuel prices in the country, he said, have not been touched since May 2022.

“There is still under recovery on diesel for OMCs,” Puri added.

Global consumption is expected to rise substantially in the next seven to eight years, he said.

Therefore with rising import dependency domestically, the minister informed that the government has increased the number of countries from which India imports to 39 from 27.

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