New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually addressed the plenary session of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit being held in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe.
At the begining of the speech, PM Modi welcomed the new members and dialogue partners to the summit and greeted the people of the host country, Tajikistan. "This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of SCO. I welcome Iran as a new member country of the SCO. I also welcome the three new dialogue partners - Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar," said PM Modi.
Speaking over the ongoing Afghanistan turmoil, its internal and external implications, and issues pertaining to regional security, PM Modi stressed on global effort in order to bring peace in the region.
"20th anniversary of SCO is right time to think about future of SCO. The biggest challenges in this area are related to-peace, security and trust deficit, and root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation. Recent developments in Afghanistan have made this challenge clear. We should take a joint step to restore peace in the region."
Moderate and tolerant Islamic values are already there. SCO should help propagate such ideas in the region, the Indian Prime Minister added.
Further in his address, Prime Minister Modi endorsed trade routes for land-locked Central Asia countries with India.
"SCO expansion shows the impact and influence of this growing organization. Connectivity is the biggest issue in Central Asia. India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India's vast market."
It is to be noted that this is the first SCO meet being held in-person and virsual, and the fourth where India will take part as a full-fledged member.