SAMARKAND: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation within the historic Uzbek metropolis right here together with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese language President Xi Jinping and leaders of the opposite member states of the influential grouping.
It’s for the primary time that Xi and Modi got here face-to-face for the reason that border standoff between India and China escalated following the lethal conflict in Galwan Valley in June 2020.
The summit can also be being attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and leaders of a number of central Asian international locations.
Forward of the deliberations on the restricted format of the summit, leaders of the everlasting members of the grouping posed for a gaggle photograph.
On the venue of the summit, Modi was warmly greeted by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
After the summit, Prime Minister Modi is ready to have separate bilateral conferences with Russian President Putin, Uzbek President Mirziyoyev and Iranian President Raisi.
Modi arrived right here on Thursday evening on an round 24-hour go to.
Hours earlier than departing for Samarkand, Modi mentioned he was wanting ahead to exchanging views on the summit on topical regional and worldwide points in addition to on reform and growth of the grouping
“On the SCO Summit, I sit up for exchanging views on topical, regional and worldwide points, the growth of SCO and additional deepening of multifaceted and mutually helpful cooperation throughout the Organisation,” Modi mentioned.
“Underneath the Uzbek chairship, a variety of selections for mutual cooperation are more likely to be adopted in areas of commerce, financial system, tradition and tourism,” he mentioned.
The SCO is holding its first in-person summit in Samarkand in Uzbekistan after two years for the reason that outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which prevented such high-level gatherings.
The summit in Samarkand could have two classes – one restricted session which is barely meant for the SCO member states after which there will likely be an prolonged session that’s more likely to see the participation of the observers and the particular invitees of the chair nation.
Launched in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO has eight full members, together with its six founding members, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017.
Through the years, it has emerged as one of many largest trans-regional worldwide organisations.
Iran is more likely to be given the standing of a everlasting member of the SCO on the Samarkand summit.
