Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2022
Recently, the Prime Minister has attended the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Key findings of SCO Submit-
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization-Council of Heads of State (SCO-CoHS), has initiated an initiative to expand the membership of the SCO.
- Iran and Belarus will join as new members under this initiative. Also, Maldives, Bahrain, Myanmar, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will be given the status of dialogue partner in SCO.
- SCO-CoHS is the highest decision-making body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Samarkand Manifesto
- Comprehensive action plan for the year 2023-2027 for friendship and cooperation among SCO member countries was announced.
- Member states will prepare a single list of terrorist, separatist and extremist groups. This list will include individuals/groups whose activities have been banned in the territories of member countries.
- Called for a transparent international energy market.
- There was also a call for reducing existing trade barriers and for a more effective World Trade Organization (WTO).
Important results with respect to India-
- Varanasi was named as the first SCO tourism and cultural capital at the SCO summit.
- Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the SCO to India. India will remain in this post for one year i.e. till September 2023.
- India will also host the SCO Summit 2023.
- India will take the initiative to set up a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicines and Startups and Innovation.
- India called upon the SCO members to provide transit access to each other to promote connectivity. This will ensure a flexible supply chain in the region.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
- SCO is an eight-member economic and security organization. It was established in the year 2001.
- Its six founding member countries are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
- India and Pakistan joined as full members in the year 2017.
- This organization works on the principle of ‘Shanghai Spirit’. This principle includes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality etc.
- Its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) deals with issues related to security and defence.
Source – The Hindu
