Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived back in New Delhi on Monday after spending two days in China, during which he had high-level interactions with a number of world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
"Concluding a productive visit to China, where I attended the SCO Summit and interacted with various world leaders. Also emphasised India’s stand on key global issues. Thankful to President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people for the successful organisation of this Summit," Prime Minister Modi posted on X.
Previous, PM Modi participated at the 25th Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Tianjin. The Summit involved thorough debates regarding the development strategy of the organisation, reforms in world governance, counter-terrorism, peace and security, economic and financial cooperation, and sustainable development plans.On the margins of the Summit, PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders discussed avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation in several fields, such as space, trade, security, and culture.
Speaking at the Summit, the Prime Minister delineated India's vision for deepened cooperation within the SCO framework, emphasizing three pillars: Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity. Highlighting peace, security, and stability to be crucial for development, he urged member states to act tough against terrorism in all its forms. He drew attention towards collective action against terror funding and radicalization, appreciating the solidarity of member nations following the Pahalgam terror attack. "There can be no double standards while addressing terrorism," he stated, demanding accountability for those countries which engage in or sponsor cross-border terror.
Emphasizing connectivity as a growth driver and confidence, PM Modi expressed full support for initiatives like Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor. He also pointed to the possibilities in start-ups, innovation, youth leadership, and common heritage and invited member states to explore these through the SCO. The Prime Minister suggested creating a Civilisational Dialogue Forum to facilitate people-to-people relations and cultural exchange among member nations.
PM Modi also reaffirmed support for the group's reformist agenda, hailing the establishment of centres to counter organised crime, drug trafficking, and cyber security. He called for the same reformist thrust in multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations.
Ending his visit, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping for the hospitality and congratulated him on the success of the Summit. He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on taking the SCO Presidency in the next year. The Summit ended with the SCO member nations adopting the Tianjin Declaration.
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