CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is being held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on August 31 and September 1. Several major global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have gathered on one platform for the summit. This year, the SCO is completing 25 years since its formation, adding to the significance of the meeting.
For India, the summit is being seen as highly important in diplomatic and strategic terms. Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit. Defence cooperation, energy, trade and regional security are likely to be among the key issues in the discussions.
There is also particular attention on a possible meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. India and China have seen tensions in recent years because of the border dispute, and any talks between the two leaders could be considered significant in efforts to stabilise bilateral relations.
The SCO agenda includes regional security, cooperation against terrorism, trade, energy, connectivity and digital cooperation. Ongoing conflicts related to West Asia and Ukraine are also likely to be discussed. With Iran being an SCO member, the West Asia crisis will remain an important issue for many countries, including India.
For India, the SCO is also an important platform to strengthen relations with Central Asia. Through this forum, New Delhi is seeking to advance trade, energy, connectivity and security cooperation in the region. Prime Minister Modi has also linked his visit to India’s regional priorities in the areas of security, connectivity and opportunities.
India’s participation in the SCO is significant also because the organisation includes countries such as China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. On such a platform, India can engage simultaneously with several major powers and advance its independent foreign policy and strategic interests.
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