India is all set to host the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit virtually, today, July 4, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm. The much-anticipated summit will witness the participation of prominent leaders from SCO member states, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be in attendance, despite facing criticism for its actions in Ukraine.
The telephonic conversation held on June 30 between PM Modi and President Putin covered a wide range of topics, including bilateral cooperation, the SCO, and the G20. As the chair of the summit, Prime Minister Modi will lead discussions on pressing issues such as terrorism, regional security, and prosperity. India's chairmanship of the SCO is guided by the theme "SECURE," which represents Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.
The inspiration for India's chairmanship theme dates back to PM Modi's coining of the acronym at the SCO Qingdao Summit in 2018. Alongside Pakistan and China, other SCO member countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are expected to actively participate in the summit through virtual means. In addition, Observer States Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia have been extended invitations, while Turkmenistan has been invited as the guest of honor, as per SCO tradition. The summit will also witness the presence of heads from two SCO Bodies, namely the Secretariat and the SCO RATS.
It is worth highlighting that Pakistan currently faces a myriad of internal challenges, including inflation and political turmoil. At the global front, the nation has been isolated due to its association with terrorist activities.
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