Jaishankar at SCO Summit 2024: It’s a ‘turbulent world’, SCO needs ‘to be adept at responding to challenges’

In an indirect jibe at Pakistan, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad on Wednesday, called for combating terrorism, separatism and extremism for a closer cooperation on trade and economy.

Jaishankar, in terse words, told the SCO leaders that cooperation in areas including trade, energy and connectivity is unlikely to flourish if activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism and separatism.

“SCO needs to be able and adept at responding to challenges facing us in a turbulent world,” Jaishankar said.

SCO must be uncompromising in countering ‘three evils’

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“SCO’s primary goal of combating terrorism, separatism and extremism is even more crucial in current times. It requires honest conversation, trust, good neighbourliness and reaffirming commitment to SCO Charter. SCO needs to be firm and uncompromising in countering the ‘three evils’,” Jaishankar said.

‘SCO cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices’

In his address, Jaishankar underlined the significance of cooperation among the SCO member-nations to address shared issues.

“Cooperation must be based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, recognize territorial integrity and sovereignty and be built on genuine partnerships, not unilateral agendas. SCO cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit,” Jaishankar said in his remarks which appeared to be an indirect attack on China’s assertive behaviour on key issues.

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‘Difficult time in world affairs’

The EAM said that the SCO leaders meeting comes at “a difficult time in world affairs. Two major conflicts [Russia-Ukraine and Israel and Gaza] are underway, each with its own global repercussions.”

“The Covid pandemic has left many in the developing world deeply devastated,” he said.

‘Debt a serious concern’

Jaishakar also pointed out that debt is a serious concern even as the world falls behind in achieving SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) targets.

“Disruptions of various kinds, such as extreme climate events, supply chain uncertainties, financial volatility are impacting growth and development,” he said.

The Indian minister said technology holds great promise, as well as raising a new host of concerns.

‘SCO must advocate to make UNSC more representative, transparent’

Jaishankar also urged the SCO member nations to take a lead in advocating that global institutions need to keep pace through reformed multilateralism to make the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable.

He said industrial cooperation can enhance competitiveness and expand labour markets.

“MSME collaboration, collaborative connectivity, environmental protection, and climate action are possible avenues. Whether it is health, food, or energy security, we are better off working together,” he said.

Jaishankar underlined the need for every SCO member nation to strictly adhere to the charter of the grouping, highlighting its essence of strengthening mutual trust, friendship and good neighbourliness.

“To renew our resolve to attain the objectives of the SCO, it is essential that we keep in mind mutuality of interests and abide by the dos and don’ts of the Charter,” he said.

“If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate, if friendship has fallen short and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address,” he said.

“Equally, it is only when we reaffirm our commitment most sincerely to the Charter that we can fully realise the benefits of cooperation and integration that it envisages,” he said.

Jaishankar concluded his address by saying that SCO represents the forces of change on whom much of the world puts great store. “Let us live up to that responsibility,” he said.

Delivered 🇮🇳’s national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting today morning in Islamabad.

SCO needs to be able and adept at responding to challenges facing us in a turbulent world. In this context, highlighted that:

➡️ SCO’s primary goal of combatting… pic.twitter.com/oC2wHsWWHD

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 16, 2024

Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday evening for the SCO meeting. He also attended a dinner, hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the delegates during which both the leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries .

Earlier, Sharif opened the SCO Summit 2024 , calling for expanding Pakistan’s all-weather ally China’s ambitious programme, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has not joined this project, massively promoted by China’s President Xi Jinping. India has objected to some of the BRI projects that pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir areas.

The SCO is a 10-member nation for security and multilateral cooperation dialogues. China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus are its permanent members of the SCO, which also has 16 other countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”.

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With inputs from agencies.