AMN /ASTANA
INDIAN Prime minister Narendra Modi made a passionate appeal to world leaders to fight against the menace of terrorism in any form and said concerted efforts are required to find a solution to recruitment , training and financing of terrorists. Addressing the 17th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan capital Astana today, Mr Modi said terrorism is a major threat to humanity.
Mr Modi said India gives utmost priority to increase connectivity among SCO countries and asserted that India would continue to work together with them. He said SCO can also focus attention to address the problem of climate change. The Prime Minister thanked SCO member countries for giving support to the accession of India to SCO. He said with India and Pakistan induction, SCO covers 42 per cent of world population and 20 per cent of world GDP.
Few minutes after the Prime minister finished his speech, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the accession of India and Pakistan to SCO group.
Prime minister also held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Kazakhstan, China and Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the SCO meeting.
The Prime minister invited Kazakhstan to become a member of the International Solar Alliance.
Both leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing connectivity through the Chabahar port in Iran. Kazakhstan is currently the largest supplier of uranium to India and both sides agreed to maintain the partnership.
During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Prime minister thanked him for his support to India’s accession to the SCO. This was the first meeting between Mr Modi and Chinese President after India stayed away from One Belt One Road Forum held in Beijing last month .
About the meeting , Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said at the time of global uncertainly, India,China relations are a factor of stability, important for India-China to work together.
The Prime minister also had a warm and productive meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and discussed stronger linkages in the spheres of economy, trade and health.
But what stole everyone’s heart is the great statesmanship the Prime minister displayed when he exchanged pleasantries with Nawaz Shariff and asked about his health and his mother.
Later in the evening, the Prime Minister along with Serbian leader Aleksandar Vučić took part in the inauguration of Astana Expo 2017, a world class exhibition before returning to Delhi.
Meanwhile, SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov said altogether 11 resolutions were passed during the summit including one on countering terrorism. He added that the next SCO summit will be held in China in June next year.
External Affairs Secretary, West, Ruchi Ghanshyam said India’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation would enhance cooperation with the member countries in several fields including energy, education, trade and commerce.
Briefing reporters after the SCO summit, she said India would also explore the prospects to harness its potential in IT, Telemedicine, industrial training with the SCO membership.
Terming the accession of India to SCO as historical, she said the move would further energise the relations with its immediate neighbourhood.
The secretary said the leaders at the summit expressed the view that India’s induction into the SCO would pave way to stability in the region. She said the Prime Minister in his address at the summit stressed the need for stability in Afghanistan. Joint Secretary, Eurasia, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay were also present.
In his bilateral meeting with the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani on the margins of the (SCO) Summit in Astana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, and expressed India’s sincere condolences on loss of hundreds of innocent lives and injury to several more.
PM Modi highly appreciated the sacrifices made by the brave Afghan people and assured President Ghani that 1.25 billion Indians stood by the friendly people of Afghanistan in resolutely and effectively addressing he challenge of terrorism imposed on that country.
Both leaders agreed that India’s entry into SCO as a full member today would promote closer cooperation within SCO, including on one of the main priorities of the Organisation, namely fighting terrorism.