{"id":4124,"date":"2022-09-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/19-09-2022\/22nd-summit-of-the-sco\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T12:52:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T07:22:31","slug":"22nd-summit-of-the-sco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/19-09-2022\/22nd-summit-of-the-sco","title":{"rendered":"22nd Summit of the SCO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>In News\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Recently,<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Samarkand<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> hosted the 22nd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for its member states and Council of Heads\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SCO Summit was cancelled in the last two years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#fff2cc; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Samarkand\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is located in the Zarefshan River valley in the Southeastern region of Uzbekistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The name Samarkand is derived from the Sogdian civilisation, where Samar means stone or rock and Khand means fort. Thus, Samarkand means a town or fort of rock or stone.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Samarkand is the country\u2019s cultural capital and has always been an intrinsic part of world culture for more than two and a half millennia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Major Highlights\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Member States stressed the need to increase mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector, including efficient use of all types of energy resources, and support the application of various efficient economically and environmentally friendly technologies .<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">They advocated the further development of modern logistics centres and joint action to coordinate and facilitate the interconnection of railway infrastructure, docking policies and regulations, scientific and technological innovation and capacity-building.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>They <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">supported the leading role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in global health governance, including in protecting public health from threats of infectious disease epidemics in accordance with the WHO International Health Regulations (2005).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">They advocated strengthening the potential of technoparks, joining efforts to develop the innovation ecosystem, conducting joint research and development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">They stressed the impact of COVID-19 on the dynamics of economic growth processes in the SCO region.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">They called for full compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC) as an effective disarmament and non- proliferation instrument.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Iran <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">has signed a memorandum of commitments to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), giving boost to India\u2019s focus on an inclusive connectivity agenda in the Eurasian region that would function parallel to China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>India Specific\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Separate bilateral meetings: <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">After the summit, the Prime Minister of India had separate bilateral meetings with the Russian President, Uzbekistan\u00a0 President and Iranian President.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">PM Narendra Modi called on the SCO to develop reliable and resilient supply chains to offset the disruptions caused by <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Covid-19 and the Ukraine cris<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">is and said better connectivity and granting &#8220;full rights&#8221; of transit facilities by member states is important to achieve the goal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Indian -Turkey :<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The leaders reviewed bilateral relations and appreciated recent gains in bilateral trade.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital during the period 2022-2023\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Indian opportunities at the SCO:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India became a full member in 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Since joining SCO as a full member, India has been making positive contributions to the SCO processes, deliberations and its outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India has already made significant efforts to enhance cooperation in traditional medicine, science and technology, and startups and innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This edition of SCO also becomes important in the light of India assuming rotational annual presidency of the SCO at the end of the summit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">SCO can also be a vocal platform for New Delhi to push the agenda of regional and cross-regional connectivity that could force Pakistan to moderate its views and approach to linking Central Asia and South Asia.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It can also be a platform where India can push for the Chabahar port project and International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Concerns \/Challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">There are new lines of fracture emerging within SCO\u00a0 as there is growing unease among the member states at the continuing conflict in Ukraine.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Many states, especially the former republics of the Soviet Union, are deeply anxious about Russia doing an \u201cUkraine\u201d on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">These republics are looking to establish other partnerships \u2014 especially with China and Turkey, and to a <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>lesser extent with Indi<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">a\u00a0 to enhance their strategic autonomy from Putin\u2019s Russia and safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Managing the affairs of the SCO that has been long dominated by Russia and China would have been challenging for India at any time, but the current turbulence will make it even harder for Delhi.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Future Prospects\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India must devote full attention in the coming year of its SCO presidency to push through new connectivity initiatives with Eurasia.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The entry of Iran into the forum opens the door for greater connectivity; so does the mobilisation of regional support for transit to Central Asia through Pakistan and Afghanistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The churn in Eurasia offers India new opportunities to raise its current limiting standing in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#fff2cc; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>SCO\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.Over the years, it has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional\u00a0 international organisations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The Council of the SCO Heads of State is the highest decision making body of the organisation and meets for an annual summit that is hosted by a member state of the SCO.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#d9ead3; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Mains Practise Question\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>[Q]<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> What are the aims and objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?What importance does it hold for India?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In News\u00a0 Recently,Samarkand hosted the 22nd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for its member states and Council of Heads\u00a0 Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SCO Summit was cancelled in the last two years. Samarkand\u00a0 It is located in the Zarefshan River valley in the Southeastern region of Uzbekistan. The name Samarkand is derived [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[30],"class_list":["post-4124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-gs-2"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/506198174278452441977globalizacion.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4124"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48333,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124\/revisions\/48333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}