NEW DELHI: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State will convene virtually on July 4, 2023, under India's direction. The summit is open to all SCO members, which are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia have also been invited to participate as observer states. Turkmenistan has also been invited as the Chair's guest in accordance with SCO customs. The Secretariat and SCO RATS heads, as well as other SCO officials, will be in attendance. Additionally, the heads of six international and regional organizations namely the UN, ASEAN, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, and CICA, have also been invited.

"Towards a SECURE SCO is the summit's topic. The term SECURE, which stands for security, economy and trade, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environment, was created by the prime minister at the 2018 SCO Summit. These topics have received particular attention during our tenure as SCO Chairman, the statement said.

"Under India's Chairmanship, new cooperation pillars have been established, including Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment, and Shared Buddhist Heritage. Additionally, India has sought to promote stronger inter-human relationships that honour the shared historical and cultural heritage of our countries. As the first-ever SCO Cultural and Tourist Capital for 2022–2023, Varanasi will host a number of sociocultural activities, among them, the statement continued.

The SCO has seen a lot of activity and productive member state cooperation under India's chairmanship. 14 Ministerial-level meetings were among the 134 meetings and events that India has held. India is still dedicated to contributing positively and constructively to the group and is anticipating a successful SCO Summit as the conclusion of its Chairmanship.

India will continue to hold the rotating presidency through September 2023. India's SCO chairmanship in 2022 will be a critical turning point in the nation's role in regional cooperation and its efforts to promote an integrated neighbourhood.

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