PM Modi, says SCO has emerged as important platform for peace, prosperity in Eurasia

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in the past 20 years, has emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development in the entire Eurasia region. He said that India sees the SCO as an extended family.

In his virtual address at the 23rd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State, PM Modi said that several new platforms such as the Young Scientist Conclave, Authors Conclave, Startup Forum, and Youth Council have been organised to harness the talent of the youth from SCO countries.

“Over the past two decades, the SCO has emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development in the entire Eurasia region. India’s thousands of years old cultural and people-to-people ties with this region are living testimony to our shared heritage”, he said.

PM Modi chaired the SCO meeting virtually. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other leaders virtually participated in the SCO meeting.

PM Modi said that India has made efforts to take its multi-faceted cooperation with SCO to new heights. “We do not only see the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) as an extended neighbourhood, but rather as an extended family. As chair of the SCO, India has made efforts to take our multi-faceted cooperation to new heights”, PM Modi said.

The PM noted that security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and environmental protection are pillars of India’s vision for SCO. “India has established five pillars of cooperation within the SCO: Startup and innovation, traditional medicine, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and shared Buddhist heritage”, he pointed out.

Prime Minister Modi said that food, fuel and fertilizer crisis is a big challenge for all countries in the world surrounded by controversies, tensions and epidemics and added that the SCO, as an organisation, should consider how its efforts can meet the expectations and aspirations of people.

“At present, the global situation is at a critical juncture. In a world engulfed by conflicts, tensions and pandemics, the food fuel and fertilizer crisis is a major challenge for all countries. We must think together that whether we as an organization can meet the expectations and aspirations of our people”, he said..

“Are we able to meet the modern challenges? Is SCO becoming an organisation that is fully prepared for the future? In this regard, India supports the proposal for improvement and modernization in SCO”, he added.

PM Modi proposed to use India’s AI-based language platform Bhashini. “We would be delighted to share India’s AI-based language platform Bhashini with everyone to remove language barriers within SCO. It can become an example of digital technology and inclusive growth. The SCO can become a significant voice for reforms within the UN and other global institutions”, PM Modi said.

“We have based all these efforts on two basic principles”, PM Modi said. “First is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means, the world is one family. This principle is part of India’s social behaviour from the ancient age. For us, this principle is a source of inspiration and energy in the modern age”.

“Second is secure which means security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and environmental protection are the pillars of our vision for SCO”, he added.

India assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit of SCO on September 16 last year. This year’s theme of India’s chairship of SCO-SECURE is derived from the acronym coined by PM Modi at the 2018 SCO Qingdao Summit. It stands for S: Security, E: Economic development, C: Connectivity, U: Unity, R: Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, E: Environmental protection. (ANI)