India to Host Virtual SCO Summit 2023 | 22nd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads

"India to Host Virtual SCO Summit 2023: Fostering Cooperation and Addressing Regional Challenges"

• The Ministry of External Affairs announced that India will host the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in a virtual format on July 4, 2023.
• The SCO summit serves as a platform for member states to address important regional and global issues.
• All SCO member states, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, will attend the summit.
• Observer states such as Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia have also been invited to participate in the event.
• The theme of the summit is "Towards a SECURE SCO," focusing on Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment.
• India, as the host, has introduced new pillars of cooperation, including Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment, and Shared Buddhist Heritage.
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was founded in 2001 with the participation of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• India and Pakistan joined as permanent members in 2017, expanding the organization's influence.
• The SCO serves as an influential economic and security bloc, promoting cooperation among member states.
• The SCO has two permanent bodies: the SCO Secretariat in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent, which facilitates cooperation in countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
• Chinese and Russian are the official working languages of the SCO, ensuring effective communication among member states.
• India's hosting of the virtual SCO summit highlights its commitment to engaging with regional and international partners to address key issues and promote cooperation.

The Ministry of External Affairs recently announced that the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be hosted by India in a virtual format on July 4, 2023. The SCO summit serves as a platform for member states to discuss and address important regional and global issues.

The summit will be attended by all SCO member states, namely China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In addition, observer states including Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia have also been invited to participate in the event. The theme of the summit is "Towards a SECURE SCO," with the acronym SECURE representing Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment.

During its Chairmanship, India has introduced new pillars of cooperation, focusing on Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment, and Shared Buddhist Heritage. These initiatives aim to enhance collaboration and foster development within the SCO framework.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 during a summit in Shanghai, with the participation of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as permanent members in 2017, expanding the organization's influence and reach. The SCO serves as an influential economic and security bloc, promoting cooperation and addressing common challenges faced by member states.

Within the SCO, there are two permanent bodies: the SCO Secretariat in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent. The RATS plays a crucial role in facilitating member states' cooperation in countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

Chinese and Russian are the official working languages of the SCO, reflecting the diverse linguistic backgrounds of member states. The choice of these languages ensures effective communication and understanding among participants during SCO meetings and discussions.

India's hosting of the SCO summit in the virtual format demonstrates its commitment to actively engage with regional and international partners in addressing key issues and promoting mutual cooperation. This summit provides an important platform for member states to strengthen ties, discuss strategic matters, and work towards achieving the goals and objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

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