SCO Summit 2024

• 05 Jul 2024

On July 4th, 2024, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan's Astana and delivered remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he reiterated that priority must naturally be given to combating terrorism.

Key Points

• Indian Bilateral Meeting: Indian EAM held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO members Tajikistan and Russia, and the newest member Belarus, on the sidelines of the meet.
• Regional Security: Member states discussed comprehensive strategies to combat terrorism, extremism, separatism, and cybercrime. With the geopolitical landscape becoming increasingly complex, cooperation in these areas was essential to maintaining stability and ensuring the safety of citizens across the region.
• Boosting Economic and Trade Cooperation: Economic collaboration was another cornerstone of the summit’s agenda. Leaders explored ways to enhance intra-regional trade and investment, streamline customs procedures, and create a more integrated economic environment.
• Promoting Cultural and Humanitarian Collaboration: Strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties is also a key objective. The summit highlighted the importance of fostering people-to-people connections to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
• Addressing Environmental Challenges: In alignment with the designation of 2024 as the Year of Environment within the SCO, environmental sustainability is a significant agenda item. The summit focused on collaborative efforts to tackle environmental issues, emphasizing the need for joint action to protect natural resources and promote sustainable development.
• Advancing Digital Transformation: Digital connectivity and transformation are crucial components of the summit’s discussions. Enhancing digital ties among member states wass seen as vital for future economic growth and technological advancement.
• Strengthening Regional Connectivity: The summit aims to reinforce regional connectivity and integration, transforming the SCO into a more practical platform for trade and security cooperation. A new development strategy were discussed, focusing on key areas such as energy cooperation, digital transformation, and regional security.
• Expanding Membership:The summit reviewed the process of admitting new members, such as Belarus, reflecting the organization’s growing influence and expanding its geopolitical reach.