India's SCO, G20 Presidencies Will Strengthen Global Stability And Security, Says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that India's SCO and G20 presidency will foster varied cooperation between the two nations and promote Asia's and the world's security and stability.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that India's presidencies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Group of 20 (G20) will foster multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and promote Asia's and the world's stability and security, news agency PTI reported quoting an official statement by Kremlin.

While India officially took over the G20 presidency on December 1, it assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO on September 16.

Putin noted in his New Year messages to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia and India will celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2022, and that the countries will continue to develop their specially privileged strategic partnership, according to a Kremlin statement.

Putin stated that the two countries carried out large-scale trade and economic initiatives, as well as energy, military technology, and other areas of cooperation, and coordinated efforts in tackling significant regional and global agenda issues.

“I am confident that India’s recently started SCO and G20 presidencies will open new opportunities for building multi-dimensional Russia-India cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, in the interests of strengthening stability and security in Asia and the entire world,” he said, as per the report. 

India has not yet criticised Russia's attack on Ukraine, stating that the crisis should be addressed through discussion.

The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation comprised of China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. In terms of geographic extent and population, it is the world's largest regional organisation, spanning around 60% of Eurasia, 40% of the world's population, and more than 30% of the global GDP.

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States are members of the G20, as is the European Union. The G20 countries account for around 85% of worldwide GDP, more than 75% of global trade, and almost two-thirds of the global population.

(With Inputs From Agencies)