Day 1 of the Shanghai Corporation Organization summit in Samarkand saw a series of key bilaterals among world leaders. Ukraine war, tensions over Taiwan and the deepening partnership between nations were some of the key agendas discussed in the meetings.

22nd SCO Summit: Series of bilaterals among world leaders on Day 1

Indian foreign ministry held media briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Uzbekistan visit. During this, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that PM Modi will reach Samarkand on Thursday evening for the SCO summit and is likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and some other leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Indian foreign ministry briefing on SCO summit: PM Modi to travel to Uzbekistan today

The leaders of China and Russia- Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, are making rare trips to Uzbekistan for SCO Summit amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. Both China and Russia have long sought to position the SCO as an alternative to the western multilateral groups, they could possibly be closer to this aim now than ever before.

Putin, Xi make rare trip abroad for SCO Summit in Uzbekistan

The SCO Summit is all set to take place in Samarkand, an Uzbek city that is rich in history and culture. WION's Siddhant Sibbal tells you more about the city that is set to host this mega summit.

WION Ground Report: A glimpse of Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand

WION's Siddhant Sibbal speaks to Rakhmatulla I Nurimbetov, National Coordinator for Uzbekistan for SCO. Talking about the expansion, Nurimbetov said "will sign MoU with Iran this time and next time, during Indian summit of SCO, Iran will become a full member of the group".

''Iran to be permanent SCO member from next year', says Uzbek SCO coordinator Nurimbetov

China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend.

SCO Summit 2022: Chinese President Xi Jinping to hold talks with Russia's Putin at Uzbekistan summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the SCO summit. This is the first time the two leaders are holding in pass on talks since the war in Ukraine began.

WION Dispatch: Leaders meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit, Putin praises Xi over Ukraine

The 22nd summit of the council of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states is set to take place in the historical city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan from September 15 to 16.

22nd summit of council of the heads of SCO member states to begin in Uzbekistan today

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China for its "balanced&nbsp;position”&nbsp;on&nbsp;the Ukraine&nbsp;crisis during his face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation&nbsp;Organisation&nbsp;(SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. This was the first meeting between the two world readers since Russia begin their military operations in Ukraine in February earlier this year.&nbsp;

"We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis. We understand your questions and concern about this. During today's meeting, we will of course explain our position," Putin told XI in the opening remarks of their bilateral meeting in Samarkand.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco-summit-live-updates-515964" hreflang="en">SCO Summit LIVE Updates</a>

China has not condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine till now and in all major votes, it has either refrained from voting or has casted its vote in Russia's&nbsp;favour.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the United States and other western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia, China has continued their trade relations.&nbsp;

Russia also supported China's claim&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;Taiwan and said that the United States is looking to disrupt the peace in the region. There was massive uproar in China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and Beijing responded by conducting military drills on the Taiwan Strait.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/six-countries-not-invited-for-queen-elizabeth-iis-funeral-see-complete-list-516447" hreflang="en">Six countries not invited for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - See complete list</a>

"We intend to firmly adhere to the principle of 'One China'," Putin said after the meeting. We condemn provocations by the United States and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait," he said.&nbsp;

Putin also held bilateral meetings&nbsp;with Iranian&nbsp;President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov and Kyrgyz President&nbsp;Sadyr&nbsp;Japarov.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China for its "balanced position” on the Ukraine crisis during his face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised China for its "balanced position” on the Ukraine crisis during his face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. This was the first meeting between the two world readers since Russia begin their military operations in Ukraine in February earlier this year. "We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis. We understand your questions and concern about this. During today's meeting, we will of course explain our position," Putin told XI in the opening remarks of their bilateral meeting in Samarkand. Also read | SCO Summit LIVE Updates China has not condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine till now and in all major votes, it has either refrained from voting or has casted its vote in Russia's favour. While the United States and other western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia, China has continued their trade relations. Russia also supported China's claim regarding Taiwan and said that the United States is looking to disrupt the peace in the region. There was massive uproar in China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and Beijing responded by conducting military drills on the Taiwan Strait. Also read | Six countries not invited for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - See complete list "We intend to firmly adhere to the principle of 'One China'," Putin said after the meeting. We condemn provocations by the United States and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait," he said. Putin also held bilateral meetings with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

SCO Summit 2022: Vladimir Putin praises China's Xi Jinping for 'balanced position' on Ukraine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tentative schedule for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2022 was released on Thursday (September 15) by the Indian ministry of external affairs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tentative schedule for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2022 was released on Thursday (September 15) by the Indian ministry of external affairs. Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said that during the 22nd summit of the SCO member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, PM Modi will be holding bilateral meetings with other member leaders on the sidelines. He didn't reveal any detail. On being asked about PM Modi's one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Kwatra said, "Besides his bilateral with the host country, PM will have bilateral with other leaders. Will keep you apprised." Kwatra further said, "Prime Minister is there for the SCO Summit for a brief period; he reaches there later tonight, attends the restricted and extended sessions and a couple of other engagements tomorrow, along with a set of bilateral meetings. He's then scheduled to return tomorrow night." SCO Summit 2022 LIVE | Putin meets Kyrgyz and Turkmen counterparts In a statement, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said: "At the SCO Summit, I look forward to exchanging views on topical, regional and international issues, the expansion of SCO and on further deepening of multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the organisation." During the summit, PM Modi is expected to have bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines. The summit usually has two sessions - a restricted session, only for the SCO member states, and then an extended session that includes participation by observers and special invitees, said the foreign secretary. ALSO READ | Russian President Putin survives assassination attempt: Report Here's the schedule Thursday, 15 September 2022 1840 Emplane for Samarkand 2100 Arrive Samarkand Airport Friday, 16 September 2022 Congress Centre 0940 Welcome Ceremony of Heads of SCO Member States 0955 Group Photo of SCO member states only 1000 Restricted format SCO Meeting (1+1) 1140 Joint Photo Session 1145 Extended format SCO Meeting (1+5) 1345 Signing of Samarkand Declaration 1415 Official Banquet hosted by Uzbek President 1540 Arrive Samarkand Regency Hotel 1540 Bilateral Meeting with Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation 1620 Arrive Congress Centre 1620 Bilateral Meeting with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan 1700 Bilateral Meeting with Ayatollah Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran 1825 Arrive mausoleum of Islam Karimov 1825 Floral tribute to first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov 1850 Emplane for Delhi 2215 Arrive Air Force Station, Palam WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PM Narendra Modi to have bilateral meetings with heads of three countries at SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to attend the first in-person summit of the SCO. So what does India hope to achieve at the summit and how is Russia using the grouping as an alternative to the India-led Western alliance? Molly Gambhir speaks to Sidhant Sibal and Anas Mallick.

WION Fineprint | What does India hope to achieve at the SCO Summit?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Putin, both of whom will be at the Samarkand for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, will be holding a bilateral meeting, the Russian government has confirmed. Ties between the two&nbsp;countries are close with defence and now energy forming the main pillars. But what is interesting is that the meeting in Samarkand will be the first between the two&nbsp;leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The impact of the invasion has been seen on global food and oil prices and amidst this, New Delhi has increased its import of discounted energy from Russia. And while criticism against India has also increased from the west, especially in Europe, New Delhi has strongly defended its import of energy needs from Russia.

External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar recently said,&nbsp;"It is my moral duty to find the best deal'.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-asks-afghanistan-to-locate-and-arrest-of-jem-chief-maulana-masood-azhar-515965" hreflang="en">Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar</a>

Both leaders last met when Russian President Putin came to India in December of 2021 for the annual India-Russia summit. While the visit was for six&nbsp;hours only, it happened amid Covid and only for the second time that year, the Russian President travelled abroad which shows the close relationship between the two&nbsp;countries. Both leaders have spoken four&nbsp;times this year, including on the day when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine--24th February. India has continuously emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict in Ukraine, from the United Nations Security Council to various conversations both leaders have had.

At UNSC, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN recently said, 'India’s approach will be to promote dialogue and diplomacy with an overarching aim to end the conflict and work with other partners to mitigate economic challenges emerging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.'

India, on its part, has sent 12 consignments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The 12th consignment consisted of 26 types of medicines, including ‘hemostatic bandages’ meant to stem the bleeding of deep wounds in children and adults. The earlier 11 consignments included 97.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries like Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Poland. Ukraine and its neighbouring countries offered their full support in the relief and evacuation operation of around 22500 Indian nationals in February-March this year.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Indian PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> will travel to Uzbekistan for the crucial <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCOSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCOSummit</a>. The Indian leader will also hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit.<a href="https://twitter.com/SaroyaHem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaroyaHem</a> talks to <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sidhant</a> for details 
 
Watch more: <a href="https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J">https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J</a> <a href="https://t.co/puW7XLTfXL">pic.twitter.com/puW7XLTfXL</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1569923595455053824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

But ties with Russia remain of paramount importance. Earlier this year, Indian National Security advisor Ajit Doval visited the country even as both sides are expected to hold the next round of India Russia summit and India Russia 2+2 defense and foreign ministers meet--both of which will take place in Russia later this year. Russia is an important partner when it comes to nuclear energy--the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant being of the flagships when it comes to a strategic partnership. Moscow has been backing India's membership in the NSG or Nuclear suppliers' group, a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council. Cooperation in space has been another key dimension of ties. &nbsp;Russia trained Indian astronauts who will be on board the Gaganyaan at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and will be part of Gaganyaan, India's first manned mission to space.

While the Ukraine conflict divides the world, the west is keen on the isolation of Russia. Amidst this, Russia has increased its emphasis on ties with Asian giants like China and India. A meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi will be a shot in the arm for Russia's Putin. A picture that Moscow needs desperately as it battles the fallout from the invasion of Ukraine.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Putin, both of whom will be at the Samarkand for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, will be holding a bilateral meeting, the Russian government has confirmed.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Putin, both of whom will be at the Samarkand for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, will be holding a bilateral meeting, the Russian government has confirmed. Ties between the two countries are close with defence and now energy forming the main pillars. But what is interesting is that the meeting in Samarkand will be the first between the two leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The impact of the invasion has been seen on global food and oil prices and amidst this, New Delhi has increased its import of discounted energy from Russia. And while criticism against India has also increased from the west, especially in Europe, New Delhi has strongly defended its import of energy needs from Russia. External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar recently said, "It is my moral duty to find the best deal'. Also read | Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar Both leaders last met when Russian President Putin came to India in December of 2021 for the annual India-Russia summit. While the visit was for six hours only, it happened amid Covid and only for the second time that year, the Russian President travelled abroad which shows the close relationship between the two countries. Both leaders have spoken four times this year, including on the day when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine--24th February. India has continuously emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict in Ukraine, from the United Nations Security Council to various conversations both leaders have had. At UNSC, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN recently said, 'India’s approach will be to promote dialogue and diplomacy with an overarching aim to end the conflict and work with other partners to mitigate economic challenges emerging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.' India, on its part, has sent 12 consignments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The 12th consignment consisted of 26 types of medicines, including ‘hemostatic bandages’ meant to stem the bleeding of deep wounds in children and adults. The earlier 11 consignments included 97.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries like Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Poland. Ukraine and its neighbouring countries offered their full support in the relief and evacuation operation of around 22500 Indian nationals in February-March this year. Indian PM @narendramodi will travel to Uzbekistan for the crucial #SCOSummit. The Indian leader will also hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit.@SaroyaHem talks to @sidhant for details Watch more: https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J pic.twitter.com/puW7XLTfXL — WION (@WIONews) September 14, 2022 × But ties with Russia remain of paramount importance. Earlier this year, Indian National Security advisor Ajit Doval visited the country even as both sides are expected to hold the next round of India Russia summit and India Russia 2+2 defense and foreign ministers meet--both of which will take place in Russia later this year. Russia is an important partner when it comes to nuclear energy--the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant being of the flagships when it comes to a strategic partnership. Moscow has been backing India's membership in the NSG or Nuclear suppliers' group, a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council. Cooperation in space has been another key dimension of ties. Russia trained Indian astronauts who will be on board the Gaganyaan at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and will be part of Gaganyaan, India's first manned mission to space. While the Ukraine conflict divides the world, the west is keen on the isolation of Russia. Amidst this, Russia has increased its emphasis on ties with Asian giants like China and India. A meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi will be a shot in the arm for Russia's Putin. A picture that Moscow needs desperately as it battles the fallout from the invasion of Ukraine.

SCO summit: Indian PM Modi, Russian President Putin to hold bilateral talks in Samarkand

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely. India and Pakistan both became members of the grouping in 2017 and since then leaders of the 2 countries have been present at various meetings, including at Defence, foreign and NSA levels.&nbsp;

The grouping's meeting in the past has seen both Indian, and Pakistani leadership present under the same roof, but given the state of the relationship, no talks have happened. In 2019, the last time the in-person summit of SCO grouping happened in Kyrgyzstan, both Indian PM Modi and Pakistan's then Prime Minister Imran Khan were present together.

Earlier this year, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto were present together at the SCO foreign ministers' meet in Tashkent, but no meeting happened. That time speaking to WION, Bhutto ruled out any meeting between the 2 leaders.

Earlier&nbsp;this year, as part of diplomatic protocols, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the new Pakistani PM pointing out that New Delhi would like to have "normal neighbourly relations" calling for "constructive engagement" but also raising the issue of terror with Islamabad, calling for an "environment free of terror and violence". Last month, the Indian Prime Minister extended his condolences on the devastating floods in the country, responding to which the Pakistani PM thanked him and expressed optimism that his country will overcome the adverse impact of the natural calamity.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1564254916134473728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

But on any chances of humanitarian assistance, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. You've seen his comments. He has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by the natural calamity".

Under the present Modi government, attempts have been made to reach out to Islamabad since 2014. India invited the then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of the current Pakistani PM to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of the&nbsp;SCO summit in Russia in July of 2015, and in the same year, both met on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit in December 2015, a picture that showed both sitting together in a very informal close manner.&nbsp;

Later that month, PM Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. That was the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in more than 10 years, raising hopes for peace between New Delhi and Islamabad. The then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took the initiative to propose a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue in December 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-asks-afghanistan-to-locate-and-arrest-of-jem-chief-maulana-masood-azhar-515965" hreflang="en">Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar</a>

But all the outreach was followed by major terror attacks like the Pathankot Airbase attack on 2 January 2016, and the attack on the Indian army Camp in Uri in August 2016. 2018, attempts were again made, with a proposed meeting of Indian, and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA but it was cancelled at the last moment after terrorist entities brutally killed three police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

The big blow to ties came in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack in which India's 40 security personnel were martyred. This terrorist act was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization proscribed by the United Nations which is led by UN-designated and internationally proscribed terrorist Masood Azhar. Later that year, Islamabad suspended People to people ties, and trade ties and downgraded its relationship with India after New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A bilateral between Indian and Pakistani leaders is a farfetched thing now, a pull aside will be a miracle. While for India, the issue of Pakistan's support of terror has been a major concern, for Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif, any meeting with Indian PM Modi means facing the wrath of Imran Khan ahead of elections. For the foreseeable future, India-Pakistan ties remain in a deep freeze, a freeze that is unlikely to go very soon.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely. India and Pakistan both became members of the grouping in 2017 and since then leaders of the 2 countries have been present at various meetings, including at Defence, foreign and NSA levels. The grouping's meeting in the past has seen both Indian, and Pakistani leadership present under the same roof, but given the state of the relationship, no talks have happened. In 2019, the last time the in-person summit of SCO grouping happened in Kyrgyzstan, both Indian PM Modi and Pakistan's then Prime Minister Imran Khan were present together. Earlier this year, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto were present together at the SCO foreign ministers' meet in Tashkent, but no meeting happened. That time speaking to WION, Bhutto ruled out any meeting between the 2 leaders. Earlier this year, as part of diplomatic protocols, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the new Pakistani PM pointing out that New Delhi would like to have "normal neighbourly relations" calling for "constructive engagement" but also raising the issue of terror with Islamabad, calling for an "environment free of terror and violence". Last month, the Indian Prime Minister extended his condolences on the devastating floods in the country, responding to which the Pakistani PM thanked him and expressed optimism that his country will overcome the adverse impact of the natural calamity. Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2022 × But on any chances of humanitarian assistance, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. You've seen his comments. He has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by the natural calamity". Under the present Modi government, attempts have been made to reach out to Islamabad since 2014. India invited the then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of the current Pakistani PM to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Russia in July of 2015, and in the same year, both met on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit in December 2015, a picture that showed both sitting together in a very informal close manner. Later that month, PM Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. That was the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in more than 10 years, raising hopes for peace between New Delhi and Islamabad. The then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took the initiative to propose a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue in December 2015. Also read | Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar But all the outreach was followed by major terror attacks like the Pathankot Airbase attack on 2 January 2016, and the attack on the Indian army Camp in Uri in August 2016. 2018, attempts were again made, with a proposed meeting of Indian, and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA but it was cancelled at the last moment after terrorist entities brutally killed three police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The big blow to ties came in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack in which India's 40 security personnel were martyred. This terrorist act was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization proscribed by the United Nations which is led by UN-designated and internationally proscribed terrorist Masood Azhar. Later that year, Islamabad suspended People to people ties, and trade ties and downgraded its relationship with India after New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. A bilateral between Indian and Pakistani leaders is a farfetched thing now, a pull aside will be a miracle. While for India, the issue of Pakistan's support of terror has been a major concern, for Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif, any meeting with Indian PM Modi means facing the wrath of Imran Khan ahead of elections. For the foreseeable future, India-Pakistan ties remain in a deep freeze, a freeze that is unlikely to go very soon.

No structured Indo-Pak meet on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Samarkand

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Central Asia this week on his first trip out of the country since the COVID-19 pandemic, attending the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Central Asia on first post-pandemic foreign trip

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Samarkand to attend the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which is scheduled to be held on September 15-16. PM Modi is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the summit.

22nd SCO meet to be held in Uzbekistan, Indian PM Modi to meet Russia President Putin

The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The statement added that the talks will mainly focus on trade and energy ties between the countries.&nbsp;

The SCO is currently the largest regional bloc in the world with eight full members - India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. This year’s SCO summit is scheduled to be held&nbsp;at Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15-16.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-claims-troops-recaptured-over-6000-sq-km-while-some-reached-russian-border-515620">Zelensky claims troops recaptured 6000 sq km while some reached Russian border</a>

“There are plans to discuss issues of ‘saturation’ of the Indian market with Russian fertiliser and bilateral food supplies. First of all, moves, aimed at boosting bilateral trade flows, will be looked at. The trade turnover reached $11.5bn in the first half of 2022, up almost 120 per cent year-on-year.” &nbsp;

In the last few months, the fertiliser imports from Russia have increased by quite a bit when it comes to the Indian market and according to Al Jazeera, India wants to sign a three-year fertiliser import deal.&nbsp;

While the imports in 2021 were worth somewhere around $773.54, they rose significantly between April and July this year with a valuation of&nbsp;$1.03bn, according to the Indian commerce ministry’s website.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/foreign-dignitaries-attending-queens-funeral-must-travel-by-commercial-flights-515767">Foreign dignitaries attending Queen’s funeral must travel by commercial flight</a>

The two countries are also looking to solidify their partnership when it comes to energy even after western countries’ criticism of India’s stance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

“India is keen to strengthen its partnership with Russia on Arctic issues. There is also immense potential for cooperation in the field of energy,” Modi earlier said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The statement added that the talks will mainly focus on trade and energy ties between the countries. The SCO is currently the largest regional bloc in the world with eight full members - India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. This year’s SCO summit is scheduled to be held at Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15-16. Also read | Zelensky claims troops recaptured 6000 sq km while some reached Russian border “There are plans to discuss issues of ‘saturation’ of the Indian market with Russian fertiliser and bilateral food supplies. First of all, moves, aimed at boosting bilateral trade flows, will be looked at. The trade turnover reached $11.5bn in the first half of 2022, up almost 120 per cent year-on-year.” In the last few months, the fertiliser imports from Russia have increased by quite a bit when it comes to the Indian market and according to Al Jazeera, India wants to sign a three-year fertiliser import deal. While the imports in 2021 were worth somewhere around $773.54, they rose significantly between April and July this year with a valuation of $1.03bn, according to the Indian commerce ministry’s website. Also read | Foreign dignitaries attending Queen’s funeral must travel by commercial flight The two countries are also looking to solidify their partnership when it comes to energy even after western countries’ criticism of India’s stance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “India is keen to strengthen its partnership with Russia on Arctic issues. There is also immense potential for cooperation in the field of energy,” Modi earlier said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Narendra Modi to meet Vladimir Putin at SCO summit, focus on trade and energy ties

India will take over the Presidency of the SCO this year. New Delhi is in a position to dictate the agenda of the SCO. Which issues will India focus on? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: At this year's SCO Summit, A unique opportunity for India

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's ambassador to India spoke to WION and stated that Iran's entry in SCO will expand its trade ties with the member states and this will change the geopolitics of the region.

SCO summit: Uzbekistan's Ambassador Dilshod Akhatov speaks to WION

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on September 15 and 16 in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. A total of 15 leaders have been invited to participate in the geopolitical event, which is held once every year.

Here are five key things to look for in this year's SCO summit:

First in-person SCO summit after 2019

This will be the first in-person summit since June 2019, when the SCO summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The 2020 Moscow summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 summit at Dushanbe was conducted in a hybrid mode.

This is the first time that Xi Jinping will attend a multilateral summit where PM Modi will also be present in three years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco-summit-live-updates-515964">Also read |&nbsp;SCO Summit 2022 in Uzbekistan live updates | Xi Jinping to meet Putin, no clarity on India-China talks</a>

What’s there for India?

The SCO is important for India because of its growing trade relations with several Central Asian economies that are also members of the summit.

India can address issues related to terrorism as many of these SCO members want to fight terrorism, cross-border organised crime, illegal migration, and human trafficking. India also has close strategic, cultural, and economic ties with Russia, which is a major player in the SCO.

Important Bilaterals for India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Xi in person for the first time since the 2019 BRICS Summit in Brazil. Since then, Indian and Chinese troops have faced off in a series of deadly skirmishes as a result of multiple Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and Sikkim.

PM Modi is also expected to hold his first ever bilateral meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisiand and meet Russian PM Putin on the sidelines of the geopolitical event.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspense-remains-on-bilateral-meeting-between-indias-modi-and-chinas-xi-on-sidleines-of-sco-meet-516004">Also read |&nbsp;Suspense remains on bilateral meeting between India's Modi and China's Xi on sidelines of SCO</a>

Iran to partake in 2023 SCO summit as full member

At the SCO's upcoming summit, Iran is set to become the ninth member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will discuss its SCO membership as well as meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for discussions on the Iran nuclear deal.

Ukraine Conflict

The biggest challenge to Uzbekistan’s big summit lies to the west—in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, China and Russia are likely to unveil their response to the rapidly changing world order. Issues of regional and global importance, such as the Ukraine conflict and its fallout on the global economy, are expected to come up at the meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on September 15 and 16 in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. A total of 15 leaders have been invited to participate in the geopolitical event, which is held once every year.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on September 15 and 16 in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. A total of 15 leaders have been invited to participate in the geopolitical event, which is held once every year. Here are five key things to look for in this year's SCO summit: First in-person SCO summit after 2019 This will be the first in-person summit since June 2019, when the SCO summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The 2020 Moscow summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 summit at Dushanbe was conducted in a hybrid mode. This is the first time that Xi Jinping will attend a multilateral summit where PM Modi will also be present in three years. Also read | SCO Summit 2022 in Uzbekistan live updates | Xi Jinping to meet Putin, no clarity on India-China talks What’s there for India? The SCO is important for India because of its growing trade relations with several Central Asian economies that are also members of the summit. India can address issues related to terrorism as many of these SCO members want to fight terrorism, cross-border organised crime, illegal migration, and human trafficking. India also has close strategic, cultural, and economic ties with Russia, which is a major player in the SCO. Important Bilaterals for India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Xi in person for the first time since the 2019 BRICS Summit in Brazil. Since then, Indian and Chinese troops have faced off in a series of deadly skirmishes as a result of multiple Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and Sikkim. PM Modi is also expected to hold his first ever bilateral meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisiand and meet Russian PM Putin on the sidelines of the geopolitical event. Also read | Suspense remains on bilateral meeting between India's Modi and China's Xi on sidelines of SCO Iran to partake in 2023 SCO summit as full member At the SCO's upcoming summit, Iran is set to become the ninth member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will discuss its SCO membership as well as meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for discussions on the Iran nuclear deal. Ukraine Conflict The biggest challenge to Uzbekistan’s big summit lies to the west—in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, China and Russia are likely to unveil their response to the rapidly changing world order. Issues of regional and global importance, such as the Ukraine conflict and its fallout on the global economy, are expected to come up at the meeting. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

SCO summit: Five key things to look for this year

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Uzbekistan on September 15 and 16 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit where he is expected to meet Russian Vladimir Putin.

Indian PM Narendra Modi likely to meet Russian Prez Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan

With Samarkand all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit later this week, Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that "India accords a lot of importance to the SCO". The fact that PM himself is travelling to take part in the summit is testimony to the fact, he said.

Samarkand will host the summit on 15&nbsp;and&nbsp;16&nbsp;September. Speaking exclusively to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Tashkent, Ambassador Prabhat also talked about India-Uzbekistan ties, with connectivity, trade and&nbsp;people-to-people relationships being the key focus. He said, "Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, and Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar." Full interview as transcribed by Veer Vikram Mukherjee is below.&nbsp;

WION: What will be the key focus of the PM's visit to Uzbekistan in terms of his participation in the SCO Summit and how important is this Summit for India?

Manish Prabhat: As you know India is among the newest members of the SCO but in this short time India has contributed very constructively to the agenda of the SCO, we are talking of many issues - Economic Cooperation, Diplomacy related to Covid, how to meet common challenges, Terrorism etc but given all this Of course the SCO summit which is happening in Samarkand what would be the agenda and what leaders would talk about themselves, of course, it is their prerogative and will have to wait for the summit outcome that what is going to happen. But of course, India accords a lot of importance to the SCO and as you know that India is also the incoming chair of SCO so obviously the summit is very important for us and PM coming himself for the summit on 15th and 16th September is the testimony of the fact that India is attaching importance to the SCO.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/22nd-sco-meet-between-head-of-member-states-515523/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

WION: Importance to SCO but also important to Uzbekistan because this is not the first time that PM is visiting Uzbekistan so how important is this bilateral relationship between the two countries?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;India and Uzbekistan have their historical relations going back to many centuries even more than 2000 years ago but of course, in modern times our relationship has really flourished, you know Uzbekistan and India both are strategic partners and you know within this framework of strategic partnership we would like to expand and strengthen our relationship in various fields - political consultations, economy, trade and investment, defence, security similarly culture, education, all are very important. And if you remember that PM Shri Narendra Modi visited all FIVE&nbsp;Central Asian countries in the year 2015, that itself was a sign that India was giving a big push to this relationship and giving a high priority to its relationship with Central Asia. Since then, this relationship has really flourished you know. And the fact that we had foreign ministerial dialogue instituted in Samarkand, the first one happened in January 2019, India-Central Asia Dialogue and then the India-Central Asia Summit which happened this year in January, shows that how close India and Central Asian countries are taking steps together.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp; Once to keep focus area between the relationships has been connectivity, Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country and very keen to use connectivity projects including Chabahar so how there has been a focus on connectivity between the two countries?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;For the landlocked Central Asia of course the connectivity is a big challenge and of course, since there is no direct connectivity, or surface connectivity, India and Central Asia which is very active these days, India has come up with a solution in the form of the Chabahar Port and as you know a part of the Chabahar Port is operated by an Indian Company and India has really pitched to all our Central Asian partners that Chabahar Port can be the key and the focus which would really establish the connectivity between India and Central Asia. And of course, this makes sense because the root is if all infrastructure is developed it really would cut down on time and other kinds of cost, it would be economical and Central Asia, the countries would also like connectivity to the outside world. So, all the countries have agreed that we should work together for connectivity and in fact, Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar. So, this initiative would go further, and this dialogue will expand. Similarly, India is a member of the International North-South Transport Corridor and we have also requested Uzbekistan to become a member of the INSTC Uzbeks are very positive about it. So, we hope that in the coming future connectivity initiative would develop to the mutual benefit of India and the central Asian countries.&nbsp;

WION: How can the trade relationships be taken forward and the benefits of trade will lead to a people-to-people relationship between the two countries, India and Uzbekistan? If you can talk about that?

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;The people-to-people relationship has always been strong between India and Central Asia and India and Uzbekistan. That goodwill is there based on which more trade can happen. As you know that Indian Pharmaceutical exports to CIS send in this part of the world have traditionally been strong, of course, there is scope for much more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of pharma exports from India also happened. But we need to identify new commodities of trade between India and Central Asia. Similarly, Uzbekistan is a big exporter of fruits and vegetables, and you know in the agriculture sector also India and Uzbekistan have identified agricultural products which can be exported and imported. Uzbekistan is also a great country rich in mineral resources. So, we identify those minerals which can come to India. Possibilities are endless. We need to develop trade connectivity, the surface connectivity, we can discuss how to put in place mechanisms which would promote trade. And we already have mechanisms like the inter-governmental commission meetings and other kinds of joint working groups. So, efforts are happening in this direction, and I think that we have set a target for our two countries to reach a trade turnover of 1 billion dollars of bilateral trade every year. We are not yet there but work is going in this direction. And the trading connectivity and the strength of investments etc would draw people you know, we become more connected to each other.&nbsp;

WION: But if you can shed some light on the people-to-people relationship India sees Central Asia and especially Uzbekistan as part of its extended neighbourhood and we know that many monuments have a resemblance between the two countries.

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;Of course,&nbsp;there is a rich past about that, so much has taken place in history. In contemporary relationships look what is India’s image in Central Asia and Uzbekistan. India is a big economy, it has a large population, it has managed things with its youth very well, we have created a big IT ecosystem, and start-ups are doing very well. India is a role model to learn how to digitise various services in the country, and how to learn IT and communication services. And so, Uzbekistan and the Central Asian countries would like to really learn from India more. You know today Uzbekistan has invited Indian Universities to come and open campuses in Uzbekistan. Already 3 Indian Universities are working in Uzbekistan and students are attending their classes. More university-to-university cooperation is going to happen. The Indian cultural centre, which is in Uzbekistan and the Indian Embassy, has opened 13 Indian study centres in the universities of Uzbekistan, so there are 13 universities already connected through Indian study centres. Similarly in the field of cultural outreach, our Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture is really doing good work. Yoga is really becoming very popular in Uzbekistan. 2 trained expert Indian teachers of Yoga have been sent from the Indian council for cultural relations to work in Uzbekistan. This year the international day of yoga was celebrated on a very large scale in many cities of Uzbekistan. So, these you know canvas of cultural cooperation is really expanding. As I said the people of Uzbekistan really look forward to it, they really love Indian films. Tashkent International Film festival has been revived. Indian stars are coming, and Indian movies are being shot here. So, a lot of things are happening. Also, India is also a great destination for medical tourism, and we see a lot of Uzbek medical patients. They come to Indian doctors, and hospitals for the quality of care we can provide to them and for the affordability of that. So, you know a lot of potential exists in these directions, in services and both India and Uzbekistan are working to realize that potential.&nbsp;

WION If I am correct India is also helping in IT capacity building of Uzbekistan, we have some projects, India has strongly supported. I remember the visits of ministers inaugurating various IT parks here.

Manish Prabhat:&nbsp;You would be happy to know that the first IT Park in Uzbekistan was first inaugurated in 2019 with the help of technical guidance of an Indian expert who was sent from the software technology parks in India. Since then that resident expert has gone on and you know he has developed more IT Parks in Uzbekistan. We have very close cooperation in the field of IT, we are training Uzbek candidates in the field of IT. Similarly, we also operate an entrepreneurship development centre in Uzbekistan which is opened by MEA, and we have a resident director and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of Ahmedabad is providing that technical consultancy to develop entrepreneurship. So, you can see that our outreach is not only IT per se but also entrepreneurship how do you mix the two and how do you engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, you know how India has done a lot in the field of start-ups in the framework of SCO and bilaterally also. So, we have come up with comprehensive planning that how to engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, train them in new kinds of skills and grow the relationship between India and Uzbekistan.

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

With Samarkand all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit later this week, Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that "India accords a lot of importance to the SCO".

With Samarkand all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit later this week, Indian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat has said that "India accords a lot of importance to the SCO". The fact that PM himself is travelling to take part in the summit is testimony to the fact, he said. Samarkand will host the summit on 15 and 16 September. Speaking exclusively to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Tashkent, Ambassador Prabhat also talked about India-Uzbekistan ties, with connectivity, trade and people-to-people relationships being the key focus. He said, "Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, and Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar." Full interview as transcribed by Veer Vikram Mukherjee is below. WION: What will be the key focus of the PM's visit to Uzbekistan in terms of his participation in the SCO Summit and how important is this Summit for India? Manish Prabhat: As you know India is among the newest members of the SCO but in this short time India has contributed very constructively to the agenda of the SCO, we are talking of many issues - Economic Cooperation, Diplomacy related to Covid, how to meet common challenges, Terrorism etc but given all this Of course the SCO summit which is happening in Samarkand what would be the agenda and what leaders would talk about themselves, of course, it is their prerogative and will have to wait for the summit outcome that what is going to happen. But of course, India accords a lot of importance to the SCO and as you know that India is also the incoming chair of SCO so obviously the summit is very important for us and PM coming himself for the summit on 15th and 16th September is the testimony of the fact that India is attaching importance to the SCO. × WION: Importance to SCO but also important to Uzbekistan because this is not the first time that PM is visiting Uzbekistan so how important is this bilateral relationship between the two countries? Manish Prabhat: India and Uzbekistan have their historical relations going back to many centuries even more than 2000 years ago but of course, in modern times our relationship has really flourished, you know Uzbekistan and India both are strategic partners and you know within this framework of strategic partnership we would like to expand and strengthen our relationship in various fields - political consultations, economy, trade and investment, defence, security similarly culture, education, all are very important. And if you remember that PM Shri Narendra Modi visited all FIVE Central Asian countries in the year 2015, that itself was a sign that India was giving a big push to this relationship and giving a high priority to its relationship with Central Asia. Since then, this relationship has really flourished you know. And the fact that we had foreign ministerial dialogue instituted in Samarkand, the first one happened in January 2019, India-Central Asia Dialogue and then the India-Central Asia Summit which happened this year in January, shows that how close India and Central Asian countries are taking steps together. WION: Once to keep focus area between the relationships has been connectivity, Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country and very keen to use connectivity projects including Chabahar so how there has been a focus on connectivity between the two countries? Manish Prabhat: For the landlocked Central Asia of course the connectivity is a big challenge and of course, since there is no direct connectivity, or surface connectivity, India and Central Asia which is very active these days, India has come up with a solution in the form of the Chabahar Port and as you know a part of the Chabahar Port is operated by an Indian Company and India has really pitched to all our Central Asian partners that Chabahar Port can be the key and the focus which would really establish the connectivity between India and Central Asia. And of course, this makes sense because the root is if all infrastructure is developed it really would cut down on time and other kinds of cost, it would be economical and Central Asia, the countries would also like connectivity to the outside world. So, all the countries have agreed that we should work together for connectivity and in fact, Uzbekistan is very supportive of the Chabahar initiative and we know that it was Uzbekistan’s initiative when we discussed Chabahar Port with them that they brought together India, Iran, Uzbekistan to sit together that have a trilateral dialogue about Chabahar. So, this initiative would go further, and this dialogue will expand. Similarly, India is a member of the International North-South Transport Corridor and we have also requested Uzbekistan to become a member of the INSTC Uzbeks are very positive about it. So, we hope that in the coming future connectivity initiative would develop to the mutual benefit of India and the central Asian countries. WION: How can the trade relationships be taken forward and the benefits of trade will lead to a people-to-people relationship between the two countries, India and Uzbekistan? If you can talk about that? Manish Prabhat: The people-to-people relationship has always been strong between India and Central Asia and India and Uzbekistan. That goodwill is there based on which more trade can happen. As you know that Indian Pharmaceutical exports to CIS send in this part of the world have traditionally been strong, of course, there is scope for much more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of pharma exports from India also happened. But we need to identify new commodities of trade between India and Central Asia. Similarly, Uzbekistan is a big exporter of fruits and vegetables, and you know in the agriculture sector also India and Uzbekistan have identified agricultural products which can be exported and imported. Uzbekistan is also a great country rich in mineral resources. So, we identify those minerals which can come to India. Possibilities are endless. We need to develop trade connectivity, the surface connectivity, we can discuss how to put in place mechanisms which would promote trade. And we already have mechanisms like the inter-governmental commission meetings and other kinds of joint working groups. So, efforts are happening in this direction, and I think that we have set a target for our two countries to reach a trade turnover of 1 billion dollars of bilateral trade every year. We are not yet there but work is going in this direction. And the trading connectivity and the strength of investments etc would draw people you know, we become more connected to each other. WION: But if you can shed some light on the people-to-people relationship India sees Central Asia and especially Uzbekistan as part of its extended neighbourhood and we know that many monuments have a resemblance between the two countries. Manish Prabhat: Of course, there is a rich past about that, so much has taken place in history. In contemporary relationships look what is India’s image in Central Asia and Uzbekistan. India is a big economy, it has a large population, it has managed things with its youth very well, we have created a big IT ecosystem, and start-ups are doing very well. India is a role model to learn how to digitise various services in the country, and how to learn IT and communication services. And so, Uzbekistan and the Central Asian countries would like to really learn from India more. You know today Uzbekistan has invited Indian Universities to come and open campuses in Uzbekistan. Already 3 Indian Universities are working in Uzbekistan and students are attending their classes. More university-to-university cooperation is going to happen. The Indian cultural centre, which is in Uzbekistan and the Indian Embassy, has opened 13 Indian study centres in the universities of Uzbekistan, so there are 13 universities already connected through Indian study centres. Similarly in the field of cultural outreach, our Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture is really doing good work. Yoga is really becoming very popular in Uzbekistan. 2 trained expert Indian teachers of Yoga have been sent from the Indian council for cultural relations to work in Uzbekistan. This year the international day of yoga was celebrated on a very large scale in many cities of Uzbekistan. So, these you know canvas of cultural cooperation is really expanding. As I said the people of Uzbekistan really look forward to it, they really love Indian films. Tashkent International Film festival has been revived. Indian stars are coming, and Indian movies are being shot here. So, a lot of things are happening. Also, India is also a great destination for medical tourism, and we see a lot of Uzbek medical patients. They come to Indian doctors, and hospitals for the quality of care we can provide to them and for the affordability of that. So, you know a lot of potential exists in these directions, in services and both India and Uzbekistan are working to realize that potential. WION If I am correct India is also helping in IT capacity building of Uzbekistan, we have some projects, India has strongly supported. I remember the visits of ministers inaugurating various IT parks here. Manish Prabhat: You would be happy to know that the first IT Park in Uzbekistan was first inaugurated in 2019 with the help of technical guidance of an Indian expert who was sent from the software technology parks in India. Since then that resident expert has gone on and you know he has developed more IT Parks in Uzbekistan. We have very close cooperation in the field of IT, we are training Uzbek candidates in the field of IT. Similarly, we also operate an entrepreneurship development centre in Uzbekistan which is opened by MEA, and we have a resident director and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of Ahmedabad is providing that technical consultancy to develop entrepreneurship. So, you can see that our outreach is not only IT per se but also entrepreneurship how do you mix the two and how do you engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, you know how India has done a lot in the field of start-ups in the framework of SCO and bilaterally also. So, we have come up with comprehensive planning that how to engage with the youth of Uzbekistan, train them in new kinds of skills and grow the relationship between India and Uzbekistan. Watch WION's live TV here: ×

India attaches importance to SCO, says Indian envoy to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat

Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit due to be held on September 15 and 16. The city has been spruced up to host 15 world leaders including PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Uzbekistan is hosting the SCO Summit for the fouth time, but it is being hosted in the city of Samarkand for the first time. Previously, Uzbekistan hosted the summit in 2004, 2010 and 2016.

The city has got a new airport which is been seen as a synthesis of the past and present and is shaped like an “open book” symbolizing the main work of Mirzo Ulugbek “Zizhijadidi Kuragoniy” or the "New Astronomical Table of Kuragoni”. The building is 175 metres wide and 25 metres high. Constellations are depicted on its roof.

The airport can handle 800 people per hour and upto 120 flights per week. Equipped with modern technologies, luggage check-in it firmly puts ancient city of Samarkand on the world tourist map.

Ulugbek, was the grandson of Timur and oldest son of Shah Rukh. The Timurid Sultan was well known as an astronomer and mathematician and was notable for trigonometry. His observatory in Samarkand, built in 1449, can accurately measure the Sun from the horizon, the altitude of a star and other planets with phenomenal accuracy.

To make the city more tourist friendly, Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Center has been built to welcome SCO guests as it plans to host many events during the summit. The main construction occupies 135 hectares. A Congress Hall has been created where meetings of the SCO leaders will be held and is located on the two banks of the famous Samarkand Rowing Canal. Its area is 2800 square metres, and the area of the main hall, where the meetings of the SCO leaders will be held, is 65x65 m, and its height is 14 metres.&nbsp;

For incoming guests, 8 international-level hotels, with a total of about 1,200 rooms have opened their doors. Two of them correspond to the 5-star category, and one of them – “Samarkand Regency Amir Temur” - is the first and so far the only hotel in Central Asia, which is included in the Leading Hotels of the World association. &nbsp;

Another local attraction, Samarkand Rowing Canal has been built. The canal is 2,180 metres long and over 150 metres wide. Remember Uzbekistan will host the Asian Youth Olympic Games in 2025, and the rowing tournaments will be held in Samarkand.&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit due to be held on September 15 and 16. The city has been spruced up to host 15 world leaders including PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit due to be held on September 15 and 16. The city has been spruced up to host 15 world leaders including PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Uzbekistan is hosting the SCO Summit for the fouth time, but it is being hosted in the city of Samarkand for the first time. Previously, Uzbekistan hosted the summit in 2004, 2010 and 2016. The city has got a new airport which is been seen as a synthesis of the past and present and is shaped like an “open book” symbolizing the main work of Mirzo Ulugbek “Zizhijadidi Kuragoniy” or the "New Astronomical Table of Kuragoni”. The building is 175 metres wide and 25 metres high. Constellations are depicted on its roof. The airport can handle 800 people per hour and upto 120 flights per week. Equipped with modern technologies, luggage check-in it firmly puts ancient city of Samarkand on the world tourist map. Ulugbek, was the grandson of Timur and oldest son of Shah Rukh. The Timurid Sultan was well known as an astronomer and mathematician and was notable for trigonometry. His observatory in Samarkand, built in 1449, can accurately measure the Sun from the horizon, the altitude of a star and other planets with phenomenal accuracy. To make the city more tourist friendly, Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Center has been built to welcome SCO guests as it plans to host many events during the summit. The main construction occupies 135 hectares. A Congress Hall has been created where meetings of the SCO leaders will be held and is located on the two banks of the famous Samarkand Rowing Canal. Its area is 2800 square metres, and the area of the main hall, where the meetings of the SCO leaders will be held, is 65x65 m, and its height is 14 metres. For incoming guests, 8 international-level hotels, with a total of about 1,200 rooms have opened their doors. Two of them correspond to the 5-star category, and one of them – “Samarkand Regency Amir Temur” - is the first and so far the only hotel in Central Asia, which is included in the Leading Hotels of the World association. Another local attraction, Samarkand Rowing Canal has been built. The canal is 2,180 metres long and over 150 metres wide. Remember Uzbekistan will host the Asian Youth Olympic Games in 2025, and the rowing tournaments will be held in Samarkand. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Samarkand gets ready to host SCO leaders

All eyes are on this year's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Samarkand summit is scheduled for 15 and 16 September 2022. As the eight-member grouping is all set to expand, the heads of member states are going to consider Iran's membership bid, by granting it a member status.

WION Dispatch | 22nd SCO meet to be held in Uzbekistan; Iran's membership bid on cards

Uzbekistan's capital Samarkand is all ready to host Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russia's President Vladimir Putin will be under the same roof to talk about Russia-Ukraine war, Taiwan Strait crisis and the relationship between India and China.

SCO summit: Leaders of India, China, Pakistan and Russia to be under one roof

Uzbekistan's Ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov has said that Iran's entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO opens the gates for the "middle East" even as a "number of Arab countries are showing great interest in joining the SCO activities as partners". Uzbekistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit later this week in which 15 world leaders, including host Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will be present. One of the key outcomes of the summit will be an expanded SCO, with Iran as its member.

Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal at Samarkand, Dilshod said, 'Uzbekistan suggests the SCO countries to rethink the value of multilateral cooperation in a period of geopolitical and economic upheavals at the global level". This year India will be handed over the Presidency of the grouping. The Uzbekistan Ambassador highlighted that India will be "able to bring new dynamics to the SCO's activities and offer new horizons for its further development."

WION: What will be Uzbekistan's key focus areas at the summit? If you can list out the priorities.

Dilshod Akhatov: Please, allow me, at the beginning of our conversation, to draw the attention of your audience,&nbsp;and readers to the features and international significance of the upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The SCO summit in Samarkand on September 15-16th is the largest international political forum in Eurasia in recent years. For the first time in the last three years, the leaders of the SCO countries will gather together in person, this is a unique opportunity to open a discussion of bilateral, regional and global issues that have accumulated during the pandemic. &nbsp;

The special flavour of the summit is given by the participation of invited guests, including the Presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as the Prime Minister of Armenia.

The Samarkand summit is the first meeting of the Organization under the Chairmanship of Uzbekistan during the Presidency of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Our country, under the leadership of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is pursuing a foreign policy course open to expansive cooperation.

Returning to your question, I want to emphasise that pragmatism, dynamism and initiative have become a kind of "calling card" of Uzbek diplomacy in recent years. These accents are also embodied in the Strategy of Uzbekistan's Chairmanship in the SCO.

Therefore, due to the effective Chairmanship of Tashkent in the SCO, key decisions and agreements are being made at the Samarkand summit, which is designed to determine the future vectors of the Organization's development.

On the eve of the SCO summit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev explained in detail the main directions of our country's Chairmanship in this Organization in his conceptual article, which was published by the leading media of the United States, Asian and European states.

“Accepting responsible mission of Chairmanship in the SCO, the Republic of Uzbekistan has relied on the strategy of advancing the development of the Organization by opening up new horizons for cooperation and launching usage of untapped reserves that each of its members has.

Our slogan is "The SCO is strong if each of us is strong". Implementing this, we have made serious efforts to make the Organization even stronger from the inside and more attractive from the outside to our international partners”, underlined President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The article also states that at the platforms of more than eighty major events held during the year, a comprehensive agenda was formed for the SCO – starting from the issues of further expanding cooperation in security, strengthening transport and economic connectivity and positioning the Organization in the international arena up to the search for new ways and points for development.

For successful transformation and growth, the SCO needs new ideas and initiatives. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan, which has been chairing this Organization for the past year, has assumed this responsible mission.

Tashkent's conceptual approach to the question of what the SCO should be in a new era can be seen in the priorities it has put forward – trade, industrial and technological cooperation, strengthening transport and economic interconnectedness, innovation, digital transformation and a green economy.

Uzbekistan suggests the SCO countries rethink the value of multilateral cooperation in a period of geopolitical and economic upheavals at the global level.

Therefore, it is quite reasonable to expect that at the Samarkand SCO summit, the President of Uzbekistan will make a number of breakthrough initiatives and proposals designed to significantly update the agenda and modernize the activities of this Organization.

WION: How much of a proud moment is it for your country, given the leaders of India, Russia, and China all will be present? What key outcomes can one expect?

Dilshod Akhatov: This is a very important event for our country and its international prestige. Please note that the leaders of 15 Eurasian countries will meet at the Samarkand SCO Summit. Therefore, it is not surprising that this meeting is the focus of the international media and the expert-analytical community.

Of course, the full-time participation at the summit of the leaders of China, Russia, India, Iran and Turkey increases interest. But there is another – actually more important side, which comes down to the following:

a) The SCO membership will be replenished. Thus, Iran's upcoming entry into the Organization as a full member opens the gates of the Middle East to the SCO. Moreover, a number of Arab countries are showing great interest in joining the SCO activities as partners;

b) The leaders will make a historic decision to improve the SCO, the implementation of which is designed to adapt it to changing realities, as well as make the Organization even stronger from the inside and attractive from the outside.

WION: How much focus will be on connectivity?

Dilshod Akhatov: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his article, which we mentioned above, made a special emphasis on the fact that global climate shocks, growing scarcity of natural and water resources, the decline in biodiversity, and spread of dangerous infectious diseases have exposed the vulnerability of our societies as never before.

They lead to the destruction of existential common goods, threatening the basis of people’s lives and reducing sources of income. In these circumstances, it is obvious that no country alone can hope to avoid or cope with these global risks and challenges. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev believes that there is only one way out of the dangerous spiral of problems in an interconnected world where we all live today - through constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation based on consideration and respect for the interests of everyone. It is exactly at the time of crisis when all the countries – whether they are large, medium or small by size – must put aside their narrow interests and focus on such mutual interaction, unite and multiply the common efforts and possibilities to counter the threats and challenges to peace, security and sustainable development that are related to each of us.

Effective international cooperation makes the world more stable, predictable and prosperous. This is the most viable, accessible and closest way to solving common problems of our time as well as a universal insurance policy against future challenges and shocks.&nbsp;This is the position of the New Uzbekistan.

WION: You hand over the presidency this year to India.&nbsp;How do you see India at SCO?

Dilshod Akhatov: During the upcoming SCO Summit in Samarkand Uzbekistan will transfer the chairmanship to India.

India's membership in the SCO serves to enhance the international weight of the Organization and to ensure stability and dynamic development of the vast region. A country with an ancient history and a dynamically developing modern economy, with a population of about 1.4 billion people, is able to bring new dynamics to the SCO's activities and offer new horizons for its further development. Your country provided all possible support to our initiatives and proposals during the chairmanship of Uzbekistan. &nbsp;

This fully meets the high level of the Uzbek-Indian strategic partnership. In this context, I would like to assure the commitment of Uzbekistan to support India during its chairmanship. We wish great success to India's upcoming chairmanship in the Organization and look forward to new initiatives and steps aimed at improving the well-being of people of the SCO member states.

Uzbekistan's Ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov has said that Iran's entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO opens the gates for the "middle East" even as a "number of Arab countries are showing great interest in joining the SCO activities as partners".

Uzbekistan's Ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov has said that Iran's entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO opens the gates for the "middle East" even as a "number of Arab countries are showing great interest in joining the SCO activities as partners". Uzbekistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit later this week in which 15 world leaders, including host Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will be present. One of the key outcomes of the summit will be an expanded SCO, with Iran as its member. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal at Samarkand, Dilshod said, 'Uzbekistan suggests the SCO countries to rethink the value of multilateral cooperation in a period of geopolitical and economic upheavals at the global level". This year India will be handed over the Presidency of the grouping. The Uzbekistan Ambassador highlighted that India will be "able to bring new dynamics to the SCO's activities and offer new horizons for its further development." WION: What will be Uzbekistan's key focus areas at the summit? If you can list out the priorities. Dilshod Akhatov: Please, allow me, at the beginning of our conversation, to draw the attention of your audience, and readers to the features and international significance of the upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO summit in Samarkand on September 15-16th is the largest international political forum in Eurasia in recent years. For the first time in the last three years, the leaders of the SCO countries will gather together in person, this is a unique opportunity to open a discussion of bilateral, regional and global issues that have accumulated during the pandemic. The special flavour of the summit is given by the participation of invited guests, including the Presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as the Prime Minister of Armenia. The Samarkand summit is the first meeting of the Organization under the Chairmanship of Uzbekistan during the Presidency of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Our country, under the leadership of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is pursuing a foreign policy course open to expansive cooperation. Returning to your question, I want to emphasise that pragmatism, dynamism and initiative have become a kind of "calling card" of Uzbek diplomacy in recent years. These accents are also embodied in the Strategy of Uzbekistan's Chairmanship in the SCO. Therefore, due to the effective Chairmanship of Tashkent in the SCO, key decisions and agreements are being made at the Samarkand summit, which is designed to determine the future vectors of the Organization's development. On the eve of the SCO summit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev explained in detail the main directions of our country's Chairmanship in this Organization in his conceptual article, which was published by the leading media of the United States, Asian and European states. “Accepting responsible mission of Chairmanship in the SCO, the Republic of Uzbekistan has relied on the strategy of advancing the development of the Organization by opening up new horizons for cooperation and launching usage of untapped reserves that each of its members has. Our slogan is "The SCO is strong if each of us is strong". Implementing this, we have made serious efforts to make the Organization even stronger from the inside and more attractive from the outside to our international partners”, underlined President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The article also states that at the platforms of more than eighty major events held during the year, a comprehensive agenda was formed for the SCO – starting from the issues of further expanding cooperation in security, strengthening transport and economic connectivity and positioning the Organization in the international arena up to the search for new ways and points for development. For successful transformation and growth, the SCO needs new ideas and initiatives. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan, which has been chairing this Organization for the past year, has assumed this responsible mission. Tashkent's conceptual approach to the question of what the SCO should be in a new era can be seen in the priorities it has put forward – trade, industrial and technological cooperation, strengthening transport and economic interconnectedness, innovation, digital transformation and a green economy. Uzbekistan suggests the SCO countries rethink the value of multilateral cooperation in a period of geopolitical and economic upheavals at the global level. Therefore, it is quite reasonable to expect that at the Samarkand SCO summit, the President of Uzbekistan will make a number of breakthrough initiatives and proposals designed to significantly update the agenda and modernize the activities of this Organization. WION: How much of a proud moment is it for your country, given the leaders of India, Russia, and China all will be present? What key outcomes can one expect? Dilshod Akhatov: This is a very important event for our country and its international prestige. Please note that the leaders of 15 Eurasian countries will meet at the Samarkand SCO Summit. Therefore, it is not surprising that this meeting is the focus of the international media and the expert-analytical community. Of course, the full-time participation at the summit of the leaders of China, Russia, India, Iran and Turkey increases interest. But there is another – actually more important side, which comes down to the following: a) The SCO membership will be replenished. Thus, Iran's upcoming entry into the Organization as a full member opens the gates of the Middle East to the SCO. Moreover, a number of Arab countries are showing great interest in joining the SCO activities as partners; b) The leaders will make a historic decision to improve the SCO, the implementation of which is designed to adapt it to changing realities, as well as make the Organization even stronger from the inside and attractive from the outside. WION: How much focus will be on connectivity? Dilshod Akhatov: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his article, which we mentioned above, made a special emphasis on the fact that global climate shocks, growing scarcity of natural and water resources, the decline in biodiversity, and spread of dangerous infectious diseases have exposed the vulnerability of our societies as never before. They lead to the destruction of existential common goods, threatening the basis of people’s lives and reducing sources of income. In these circumstances, it is obvious that no country alone can hope to avoid or cope with these global risks and challenges. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev believes that there is only one way out of the dangerous spiral of problems in an interconnected world where we all live today - through constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation based on consideration and respect for the interests of everyone. It is exactly at the time of crisis when all the countries – whether they are large, medium or small by size – must put aside their narrow interests and focus on such mutual interaction, unite and multiply the common efforts and possibilities to counter the threats and challenges to peace, security and sustainable development that are related to each of us. Effective international cooperation makes the world more stable, predictable and prosperous. This is the most viable, accessible and closest way to solving common problems of our time as well as a universal insurance policy against future challenges and shocks. This is the position of the New Uzbekistan. WION: You hand over the presidency this year to India. How do you see India at SCO? Dilshod Akhatov: During the upcoming SCO Summit in Samarkand Uzbekistan will transfer the chairmanship to India. India's membership in the SCO serves to enhance the international weight of the Organization and to ensure stability and dynamic development of the vast region. A country with an ancient history and a dynamically developing modern economy, with a population of about 1.4 billion people, is able to bring new dynamics to the SCO's activities and offer new horizons for its further development. Your country provided all possible support to our initiatives and proposals during the chairmanship of Uzbekistan. This fully meets the high level of the Uzbek-Indian strategic partnership. In this context, I would like to assure the commitment of Uzbekistan to support India during its chairmanship. We wish great success to India's upcoming chairmanship in the Organization and look forward to new initiatives and steps aimed at improving the well-being of people of the SCO member states.

Iran's entry into SCO opens gates for Middle East, says Uzbekistan ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come under one roof for the first time since 2020 Galwan clashes for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at Uzbekistan on 15-16 September. Indian and Chinese troops have also completed the disengagement process in the Gogra-Hot Springs area along the LAC.

India and China to be under one roof for SCO meet for first time after 2020 Galwan clashes

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come under one roof for the first time since 2020 Galwan clashes for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at Uzbekistan on 15-16 September.

SCO Summit: Indian PM Modi to share the forum with Chinese President Xi Jinping

India's PM Narendra Modi delivered a hard-hitting speech at the SCO summit saying that Afghanistan is proof that radicalisation is the biggest challenge to peace. But can anything concrete come out of the SCO? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: What went down at the SCO summit?

The 21st meeting of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Council of Heads of State is today in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in a hybrid format. The meeting will be chaired by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon. Watch this report for more details.

SCO Summit 2021: Russia , China & India to Joint virtually

The Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO meet.

MEA S Jaishankar, his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi hold key talks at SCO summit

The 21st meeting of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Council of Heads of State kickstarted in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in a hybrid format. Citing Afghanistan Crisis, Indian PM Narendra Modi spoke about the increasing radicalisation, which he said has become the biggest challenge to peace and security.

SCO Summit 2021: Indian PM Narendra Modi highlights threats to regional security

sco-summit

Sco Summit, News on Sco Summit, stories on Sco Summit, articles on Sco Summit, Sco Summit stories at Wion, Sco Summit news, Sco Summit latest news

sco summit