PM Modi attends the SCO meeting | Photo credit: ANI
Key points
- Prime Minister Modi supported a ‘reformed multilateralism’ that reflects today’s global realities
- As the world’s largest vaccine-producing country, India will use its capacity to help fight COVID-19, he said.
- India’s pharmaceutical industry shipped essential drugs to more than 150 countries
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders on Tuesday. to discuss ways to recover from the adverse economic impact of COVID. 19 pandemic and the growing threat of terrorism, among other problems.
In addition to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and the SCO Secretary General, Rashid Alimov, the conference was attended by leaders of the eight SCO member states and four observer states.
“India has strong cultural and historical ties with the SCO countries. India believes that to improve connectivity it is important that we move forward while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others,” the prime minister said.
Reformed multilateralism
“A ‘reformed multilateralism’ that reflects today’s global realities, discussing issues such as the expectations of all stakeholders, contemporary challenges and human well-being. We look forward to the full support of SCO member countries in this effort,” he said.
Furthermore, the prime minister said that it was regrettable that repeated attempts were being made to unnecessarily put bilateral issues on the SCO agenda.
COVID-19 impact
Speaking about the challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Modi said that as the world’s largest vaccine producing country, India will use its capacity to help all of humanity fight the crisis. “At this difficult time in the unprecedented epidemic, the Indian pharmaceutical industry shipped essential drugs to more than 150 countries,” he said.
The current membership of the SCO includes China, Pakistan, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia are observer states. The annual summit of the council of heads of state of the SCO focuses on all key areas of the activities of the powerful bloc, including politics, security, trade, economy and culture.
