Lok Sabha Question No. 302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: SCO meeting
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Preneet Kaur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.302 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## SCO MEETING

## 302.     SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR:

## Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the countries which participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers (FM) meeting held recently in Russia in September 2020 along with the details of the deliberation held in the said meeting;
- (b) whether   India   held   meetings/talks   with   the   leaders   of   different countries   outside   the   SCO   FM   meeting   and   if   so,   the   issues deliberated/discussed and the consensus arrived at the meetings/talks;
- (c) whether India held any bilateral meeting(s) with China regarding the recent India-China military standoff and if so, the response received from China;
- (d) the details of India's Eurasia plan/policy vis-à-vis the SCO;
- (e) whether India proposes to play a more meaningful role in the SCO, in lieu of rising tensions with China; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a) Foreign   Ministers   of   Shanghai   Cooperation   Organization(SCO) Member States (India, Kazakhstan,China, Kyrgyzstan,  Pakistan,   Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), Secretary-General of the SCO and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-T errorist Structure(SCO RATS) attended the meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers held in Moscow on September 10, 2020.

The meeting discussed:

(i)   The   status   and   prospects   for   further   development   of   the   SCO's activities,   taking   into   account   the   global   political   and   socio-economic consequences of the new coronavirus pandemic;

(ii) Preparations for the meeting of the Council of   Heads of State  to be held on November 10, 2020;

(iii) Current international and regional issues;

(iv)   75 th anniversary   of   the   UN   and   promotion   of   foreign   policy   of interaction of the SCO Member States.

At the end of the meeting a Press Release/Information Statement was issued.

(b) On the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with the Foriegn Ministers of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. EAM also took part in the Russia-India-China Foreign Ministers Meeting.

During his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, EAM discussed issues of bilateral cooperation (including the scheduling of the next IndiaRussia Annual Summit, India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission etc), as well as regional/international issues of mutual interest. Both Ministers underscored the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Russia-India-China, the   3   sides   exchanged   views   on   further   strengthening   of   trilateral cooperation and topical issues of international and regional importance. They reiterated their support for inclusive multilateralism and respect for universally recognized principles of international law. They agreed that the 3 countries could make a significant contribution towards mitigating the impact   of   Covid-19   pandemic.   The   Russian   Foreign   Minister   officially handed over the chairmanship of RIC to the External Affairs Minister of India.

During   his   bilateral   meetings   with   the   Foreign   Ministers   of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, EAM discussed issues related to further strengthening of bilateral strategic cooperation, the next meeting of India-Central Asia Dialogue, economic cooperation, connectivity, implementation   of   developmental   projects   through Government of India's Line of Credit, situation in Afghanistan etc. The Foreign Ministers of these Central Asian countries also expressed their desire to further strengthen bilateral relations with India.

(c) External Affairs Minister met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 10 September 2020 in Moscow on the side-lines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. Both Ministers had in-depth discussions on the developments in the India-China border areas and reached a five point agreement.

(d) India uses SCO as a platform to reconnect to the Eurasian region, particularly   with   our   extended   neighbourhood,   share   best   practices   in countering the threats of terrorism, extremism and separatism through the   SCO   Regional   Anti-T errorist   Structure   (SCO   RATS),   cooperation   on Afghanistan, and deepen our trade, economic and cultural cooperation in the region.

(e) & (f) Yes. Since India became Member State of the SCO in 2017, India has continued to play a constructive and positive role and has actively contributed to enriching the agenda and strengthening the Organisation.

In   November   2019,   as   per   rotation   -   India   assumed   the Chairmanship of the 19 th  SCO Council of Heads of Government(CHG) for a one-year period.

During the course of our Chairmanship, it was our endeavor to implement the previous announcements of Hon'ble PM and to create a niche` for India-led and India- driven activities within the Organisation.

The 19 th  Summit of SCO Council of Heads of Government (SCO CHG) was held on November 30, 2020 in the virtual format. Hon'ble  Vice President of India, who chaired the meeting reiterated India's commitment to contribute to trade and economic development of the SCO region and announced concrete initiatives under India's Chairmanship of the SCO CHG in 2020. These included, creating a new Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation under the Chairmanship of India, setting up an Expert Working Group on Cooperation in Traditional Medicine, convening of the SCO Young Scientists Conclave on a biannual basis, hosting of an annual SCO MSME Bazaar in B2B format and establishing a digital SCO MSME  Center   by   Federation   of   Indian   Chambers   of   Commerce   and Industry.

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