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Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

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Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China (hosting for the 5th time). Theme of the summit is “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move”. The meeting comes amid gradual improvement in bilateral engagement after recent disengagement along the India-China border.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

  • Nature: Regional intergovernmental organisation for political, economic, and security cooperation.
  • Established: 2001 (Shanghai), evolved from the Shanghai Five (1996).
  • Headquarters: Beijing, China.
  • Membership:
    • Permanent Members (8): China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
    • Observers: Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Iran (progressing to full membership).
    • Dialogue Partners: Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.

Objectives:

  • Promote regional peace and stability.
  • Cooperate against terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
  • Strengthen trade, energy, and connectivity.
  • Encourage cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
  • Uphold multipolarity and non-interference in internal affairs.

Major Initiatives:

  • Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): HQ – Tashkent.
  • Proposal for an SCO Development Bank.
  • Initiatives in energy security, transport corridors, agriculture, digital economy.
  • Peace Mission series of annual joint military exercises.

2025 SCO Summit

  • Host: China (hosting for the 5th time).
  • Theme: “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move”.
  • Focus Areas:
    • Adoption of a 10-year development strategy (2025–2035).
    • Review of 25 years of SCO achievements.
    • Deepening counter-terrorism cooperation.
    • Expanding trade, connectivity, and energy projects.
    • Push for sustainable development and climate action.
  • Participation: 20+ world leaders, 10 international organisations.
  • India’s Role:
    • Advocate regional connectivity (Chabahar, INSTC).
    • Push for anti-terror collaboration.
    • Engage in energy and sustainable growth projects.
    • Balance relations with China, Russia, and Central Asia within SCO.
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Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Why in News?

India refused to associate itself with a statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning Israel’s military strikes on Iran in another show of solidarity with Israel this week, after it abstained from voting on a UN resolution seeking ceasefire in Gaza.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a multilateral political, economic, security, and defence organization comprising 10 member states across Eurasia. It represents the world’s largest regional organization by area and population, covering approximately 24% of the world’s landmass and 42% of its population.

  • Headquarter:
    • Beijing, China
  • Secretary-General:
    • Nurlan Yermekbayev

Member States

  • Founding Members (2001): China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
  • Expanded Members:
    • India and Pakistan joined in June 2017
    • Iran became a full member in July 2023
    • Belarus joined in July 2024

Origins and Development

  • Predecessor: Shanghai Five (1996–2000), comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
    • 1996: Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions
    • 1997: Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions
    • Regular summits fostered border cooperation, military trust, and non-interference principles.
  • Formation of SCO:
    • June 2001: Uzbekistan joined the Shanghai Five members to establish the SCO in Shanghai.
    • The group evolved from a confidence-building mechanism to a broader strategic platform for regional stability, economic cooperation, and counter-terrorism.

Structure and Governance

  • Heads of State Council (HSC): Supreme decision-making body, meets annually.
  • Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Coordinates intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts among member states.

Key Principles

  • Respect for sovereignty, non-interference, territorial integrity, and collective security.
  • Promotion of a multipolar world order and regional integration without external intervention.

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