- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (17) said the biggest changes that a platform like Shanghai Economic Cooperation (SCO) faces are related to peace, security and concerns concerning trust deficit.
Addressing the plenary session of the 21st meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State, Modi said the main cause of the problems is increasing radicalisation and the recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge clear.
Modi addressed the summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, via a video link while Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was present there in person.
“The biggest challenges in this area are related to peace, security and trust deficit. The main cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation. Recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge clear,” Modi, who turned 71 the same day, said.
Referring to historical trends, Modi said the region of Central Asia has been a bastion of moderate and progressive cultures and values. “Traditions like Sufism flourished here over the centuries and spread throughout the region and the world. We can still see their image in the cultural heritage of this region,” he said.
The prime minister, keeping in view the 20th anniversary of SCO which India joined in 2017 along with Pakistan, said the member-states must encourage their talented youngsters towards scientific and rational thinking.
“We can bring our startups and entrepreneurs together to create the innovative spirit towards making India a stakeholder in an emerging technology,” he said.
Underlining the significance of connectivity in the region, Modi said no connectivity initiative can be one way.
“To ensure mutual trust, connectivity projects should be consultative, transparent and participatory. There should be respect for the territorial integrity of all countries,” he said.
“India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India’s vast market,” he added.
During the address, Modi welcomed Iran as a new member country of the SCO besides three new dialogue partners – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar.
