LIVE Updates: PM Modi calls SCO extended family as Putin, Xi, Sharif join virtually

Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to work with SCO member states to "oppose protectionism".

Xi said China would "persist in the correct direction of economic globalisation, oppose protectionism, unilateral sanctions and extension of national security concepts", according to state broadcaster CCTV. 

Putin said that Russia recognises principles of mutual support and respect. He said that "Russia supports New Delhi declaration which gives consolidated approach on international issues". 

He said Russia counters all the sanctions and will continue to strengthen ties with SCO countries. 

He said that "we must continue to coordinate our efforts on developing payment infrastructure" as Russia stands for cooperation in banking and investment. 

PM Modi said, "The situation in Afghanistan has had a direct impact on the security of all of us (countries). India's concerns and expectations regarding Afghanistan are the same as most of the SCO Member countries. We have to make united efforts for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan...It is important that the land of Afghanistan is not used to spread unrest in neighbouring nations or promote extremist ideologies." 

He said that he is happy that Iran is going to join our SCO family and also congratulated President Ebrahim Raisi and the nation . 

PM Modi said that food fuel crisis are reality of all the countries around the world. He added that the fertilizer crises is a big challenge to every nation, we have to ask ourselves that whether or not we capable of facing new challenges. 

He also condemned cross-border terrorism and added that it must be fought together. 

PM Modi said start-ups and innovation, traditional medicine, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage have been the five pillars of SCO. 

He added that in transportation: decarbonisation, digital infrastructure, India wants to make people to people connection through SCO, for the first time SCO Millet Food Festival, Film Festival, International Conference on shared Buddhist Heritage was held

During his opening remarks, PM Modi said, "We do not see the SCO as an extended neighbourhood, but rather as an extended family. Security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environmental protection are the pillars of our vision for SCO." 

Indian PM Modi is currently speaking at the 23rd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State. 
 

Putin will also participate in the summit this week, which has come at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war has completed over a year. 

India has condemned the war but has not voted against Russia. 

While speaking to Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Uzbekistan last year, Indian PM Modi said, "This is not the era of war." 

The remarks went viral and was reiterated at different platforms. 

Earlier on June 30, PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Putin and discussed issues of bilateral cooperation including SCO and G20. 

-Address by chair India: 12:30pm – 12:45pm
-Address by Kazakhstan: 12:45pm – 12:55pm
-Address by China: 12:55pm – 1pm
-Remarks by Pakistan: 1pm – 1:10pm
-Remarks by Russia: 1:10pm – 1:15pm
-Remarks by UN Secretary-General: 1:55pm – 2:05pm  
-Remarks by Belarus: 2:10pm – 2:20pm
-Remarks by Iran: 2:20pm – 2:25pm
-Signing of documents:  2:40pm
-SCO Anthem plays at the conclusion of the meeting: 2:45pm

all time in IST

All the SCO Member States, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, have been invited to attend the virtual summit.

Besides that Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as Observer States.

As per the SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the Chair.

Heads of the two SCO Bodies, the Secretariat and the SCO RATS, will also be present. 
 

It is said that some of the major issues that will be on the agenda are terrorism, regional security, climate change, and more. 

This year, the theme of the summit is SCO- SECURE, which is derived from the acronym coined by PM Modi at the 2018 SCO Qingdao Summit. 

It stands for S: Security, E: Economic development, C: Connectivity, U: Unity, R: Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, E: Environmental protection. 

India is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit today virtually. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate as the leaders will discuss issues of mutual interest. The meeting of the SCO Heads of State will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.