“Key Takeaways from India’s Address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Meeting”

Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should collaborate to promote stability and prosperity in the region, emphasizing their commitment to upholding international law, respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fostering economic cooperation. These statements were made by the External Affairs Minister on Thursday during his address at the 22nd session of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

During his speech, he emphasized that the primary objective of the SCO should be to adhere to these principles, with a particular focus on the interests of Central Asian states. He also acknowledged the deep historical ties that India shares with the people of the SCO region, underlining the necessity of transforming these connections into a foundation for enhanced economic collaboration.

The minister expressed concerns regarding substantial Chinese investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan, which India has raised objections to due to its passage through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He stressed the importance of robust connectivity and infrastructure to facilitate regional trade, urging that such initiatives must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. He also cautioned against imposing unsustainable debt burdens on countries, making an indirect reference to China’s infrastructure projects criticized for burdening nations with unmanageable debt.

Simultaneously, he highlighted the potential of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as drivers of prosperity. The IMEC, seen as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced by leaders from the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union. The INSTC, on the other hand, is a 7,200-kilometer multi-modal network facilitating the movement of goods between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.

In the context of global concerns about China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its impact on the sovereignty of smaller nations, he highlighted that many countries have borrowed heavily from China, raising concerns about debt traps and regional hegemony. He pointed out that the US, during the Trump administration, had criticized China’s “predatory financing” and its impact on the sovereignty of borrowing countries.

During India’s SCO presidency, the minister noted the introduction of five new areas of cooperation: Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Science and Technology, Youth Empowerment, and Shared Buddhist Heritage. He emphasized the relevance of these themes and the adoption of a Statement on Cooperation in Digital Transformation, as well as the institutionalization of a Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation. India has also been hosting the SCO Startup Forum on a regular basis.