Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2020
- 20th Summit of SCO Council of Heads of State was held on November 10, 2020.
- This was the first SCO Summit held in Virtual Format and third meeting that India participated after becoming a full member in 2017.
- This is an important year for India in SCO.
- India is going to convene a summit level meeting “SCO Council of Heads of Government” for the first time.
- A broad agenda has been drafted for this meeting, with special attention to economic cooperation.
- India has proposed the making of a Special Working Group on Innovation and Startups to share our rich experience in the startup ecosystem.
- Also proposed a Working Group on Traditional Medicine, so that the knowledge of traditional and ancient medicine is spread across SCO countries and the headway in contemporary medicine can complement each other.
- India firmly believes that with the combination of economic multilateralism and national capacity building, SCO countries can escape from the crisis of pandemic led economic losses.
- Further, India is moving ahead with a vision of a “Self-reliant India” in the post-pandemic world.
- We believe that “Self-reliant India” will prove to be a Force Multiplier for the global economy and will accelerate the economic progress of the SCO region.
- India maintains close cultural and historical ties with the SCO nations.
- Our ancestors kept alive this shared historical and cultural heritage with their untiring and persistent contacts.
- Steps such as the International North South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreements, reflect India’s strong resolve towards connectivity.
- India believes that to further deepen Connectivity, it is necessary to carry forward with the core principles respecting each other’s sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity.
- The United Nations has completed its 75 years.
- But despite many achievements, the basic goal of the United Nations is still unaccomplished.
- The world struggling with the pandemic led economic and social suffering is expected to bring about radical changes in the UN systems.
- It is said in our scriptures “Parivartanme Sthirmasti” – Change is the only permanency.
- Beginning 2021 India will participate in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.
- Our focus will be on bringing possible changes in global governance process.
- A reformed multilateralism that will reflect today’s global realities and discuss topics such as expectations of all stakeholders, contemporary challenges and human welfare.
- India expect full support from SCO member nations in this endeavor.
- This peace hymn is a symbol of believe for the entire human welfare of India.
- In this painful time of unprecedented pandemic, India’s pharma industry helped more than 150 countries with essential medicines.
- As the world’s largest vaccine producing country, India will use its vaccine production and distribution capacity to help the entire humanity in fighting this crisis.
- India firmly believes in peace, security and prosperity and we have always voiced opposition to terrorism, illegal arms smuggling, drugs and money laundering.
- India has remained firm in its commitment to work in compliance with SCO principles laid down in the SCO Charter.
- However, it is unfortunate that repeated attempts are being made to unnecessarily bring bilateral issues in the SCO agenda, which is in violation of the SCO Charter and Shanghai Spirit.
- Such efforts are discordant to the spirit of consensus and cooperation that defines SCO.
- The National Museum of India is in the process of organizing the first SCO exhibition on our shared Buddhist heritage this year.
- The Literature Academy of India has completed the translation of ten Indian literary works in Russian and Chinese languages.
- India, as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, beginning from 1 January 2021, will focus on the theme of ‘reformed multilateralism’ to bring about desirable changes in global governance.
- India’s strong cultural and historical connect with the SCO region and reiterated India’s firm commitment towards strengthening connectivity in the region with initiatives like International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port and Ashgabat Agreement.
- India has also extended full support to observing the 20th anniversary of SCO in 2021 as the “SCO Year of Culture” and spoke of India’s own initiatives to hold the first SCO exhibition on Shared Buddhist Heritage to be organized by National Museum of India, SCO Food Festival in India next year and the translation of Ten regional language literary works into Russian and Chinese. India’s vision of a “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India) in the post-pandemic world that could prove to be a force multiplier for the global economy and the economic progress of the SCO region.
