Sushma Swaraj attends SCO Summit in Russia: Counter-terrorism measures likely to top agenda

Sochi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday arrived in the Russian city of Sochi to attend the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.

The summit will be held on 30 November and 1 December and is likely to discuss issues relating to the regional security scenario, including situations in the Gulf and Afghanistan.

In June, India and Pakistan had become full-fledged members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a China-dominated security grouping increasingly seen as a counterweight to NATO.

"EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in the picturesque town of #Sochi to attend the SCO Council Heads of Government Meeting on 30 November & 1 December. #EAMatSCO," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Hon’ble EAM Smt. Sushma Swaraj arrives in Sochi to represent India in SCO council Heads of Government meeting on 30 Nov. & 1 Dec. She was received by Mayor of Sochi Mr. Anatoly Pakhomov and Indian Amb. Mr.Pankaj Saran.@PankajSaran11 @SushmaSwaraj @DDNewsHindi pic.twitter.com/lkPNvVy97n

— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) November 29, 2017

In the summit, India is likely to press for concerted regional and global efforts to contain terrorism.

File image of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the SCO Summit in June in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan.

Last week, Kumar had said Swaraj will have bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Asked whether she will have bilateral meetings with the Pakistan foreign minister or call on Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Kumar had said her schedule was still being finalised.

"At this stage we cannot say anything," he had said.

Swaraj will return on 2 December.

As an SCO member, India is expected to have a bigger say in pressing for concerted action in dealing with terrorism as well as on issues relating to security and defence in the region.

India's membership was strongly pushed by Russia while Pakistan's entry into the grouping was backed by China.

India had been an observer at the SCO since 2005. It has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

The SCO had set the ball rolling to make India a member of the bloc during its summit in Ufa, Russia, in July 2015.