May 13: The Video Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO Member States was convened by the current Chair, Russia on 13 May, 2020. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, chaired the meeting. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar represented India. Mr. Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Chingiz Aidarbekov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan represented the respective SCO countries. Secretary-General of SCO Mr. Vladimir Norov and Director of the Executive Committee of SCO RATS Mr. Jumakhon Giyosov also attended the meeting.
This video conference was convened in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and discussions centered around COVID-19 crisis and coordination of the efforts to deal with its trade, economic and social consequences. The SCO Foreign Ministers also discussed the preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting (SCO Summit) in Saint Petersburg, the situation in Afghanistan and the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of World War II.
In his remarks, EAM thanked the Russian Foreign Minister for convening this extraordinary meeting. He reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to the joint fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and its readiness to share information, expertise and best practices to the SCO Member States. He emphasized that India attaches great importance to its relations with SCO and has contributed positively to enhance the role of SCO in the global arena since its inclusion as a full member of SCO in 2017. He also assured that India will continue to maintain extensive engagement towards strengthening SCO’s potential in ensuring mutually beneficial development.
EAM highlighted the initiatives and various decisive steps taken by India in the wake of the pandemic, including US $ 266 billion economic package announced yesterday.
EAM underlined that the security challenges we face today are not linked by physical or political boundaries. Terrorism continues to be the overwhelming threat to security and stability in the SCO region and would require collective action.
EAM also indicated that India is committed to work towards creation of a favorable environment for mutually beneficial trade-economic cooperation among the SCO Members.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO Member States approved and adopted a Statement on the pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) at the end of the meeting.
Source: MEA
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