- External Affairs Minister to participate in Council of Heads of State summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
- The next SCO Heads of Government meeting is scheduled in Pakistan later this year, and the 2025 SCO Summit will be hosted by China.
- The SCO Council will adopt the Astana Declaration, focusing on economic issues, connectivity, fighting terrorism, and regional developments.
- During the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in May, the MEA promoted the utilization of the Chabahar Port, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which has been stalled due to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
- Pakistan is expected to offer Qasim port and Gwadar port for Central Asia’s trade routes.
SCO
- Founded in June 2001, in Shanghai, includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, and Iran became a full member in 2023.
- The SCO operates under the “Shanghai spirit” of mutual trust, benefit, and development.
- Key decision-making bodies include the Council of Heads of State and Government. Its Secretariat is in Beijing, and RATS (Regional Anti- terrorist Structure) is in Tashkent.
- Official languages are Russian and Chinese.
- India and Pakistan, both SCO members since 2017, have often sparred over terrorism and transit trade issues. Developments in Afghanistan will also be discussed, given the SCO members’ engagement with the Taliban regime.
Dig Deeper: Read about the various China-led international organisations established to create alternatives to the leadership of the West.
