The recent 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, virtually hosted by India, discussed some key issues including regional security, economic connectivity and trade. It also saw the inclusion of Iran as a new member and opened the chapter for Belarus’ membership. While Belarus and Mongolia were invited as observer states, Turkmenistan was invited as the guest of the chair.
The summit was joined by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and leaders from four central Asian countries.
The theme of India’s SCO presidency is “SECURE,” which stands for security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environmental protection.
New Delhi declaration
The summit issued a joint communique New Delhi Declaration, along with two separate joint statements, one on “cooperation in countering radicalisation leading to separatism, extremism, terrorism,” and the other on “digital transformation.” The Heads of State Council approved the SCO Economic Development Strategy for 2030.
Leaders decided to forge closer ties within the expanding Eurasian bloc but stressed the group is not directed against any other states.
The joint declaration said SCO members oppose bloc, ideological and confrontational approaches to address problems and security challenges. Without referring to NATO’s expansion and Western military assistance to Ukraine, the leaders were critical of the negative impact of “unilateral and unlimited expansion of global missile defence systems by certain countries or groups of countries.”
It called for an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of representatives of all ethnic, religious and political groups in Afghan society.
The SCO Heads of State Council approved the Concept of Cooperation between the member states to decarbonise transport and promote digital transformation and innovative technologies to achieve greater efficiency and sustainability.
It also adopted decisions on the Regulation of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure and the signing of a Memorandum between the SCO Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme.
With the inclusion of Iran, PM Modi proposed an increase in the use of Chabahar Port, located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman, for trade and other economic activities. India feels that the International North-South Transport Corridor can serve as a secure and efficient route for landlocked countries in Central Asia to access the Indian Ocean.
Modi said that India would be delighted to share India's AI-based language platform Bhashini with everyone to remove language barriers within SCO.
Referring to Pakistan, Modi said, "Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies and provide shelter to terrorists. SCO should not hesitate to criticize such nations. There should be no place for double standards on such serious matters."
In an attempt to corner India, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said, "There can be no justification for the killing of innocent people, regardless of the cause or pretext. Similarly, religious minorities should never be demonized in the pursuit of domestic political agendas."
Sharif's statement comes at a time when there are reports of Pakistan persecuting minorities.
In May, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India to attend a key multilateral meeting of the SCO in Goa, and he was the first Pakistan foreign minister to visit India since 2011.
President Xi warned against attempts to foment a new 'Cold War’. He highlighted the significance of upholding multilateralism. He called upon the leaders of Russia, Iran, and other member states to resist sanctions.
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In his first international meeting since the Wagner mutiny, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that sanctions imposed by US-led Western countries are making Russia stronger. He told the summit that Russia would stand up against Western pressure, sanctions and "provocations". Russia views countries such as China, India and Iran as key partners in confronting the United States and resisting what it portrays as U.S. attempts to dictate the world order.
Spat over BRI
India, which holds the presidency of SCO and the G20 this year, is walking a diplomatic tightrope as relations between the West and a Russia-China partnership have been fraught due to the Ukraine war, and Beijing's growing clout in global geopolitics.
At the summit, all members except India supported China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which rebuilt the old Silk Road to connect China with Asia, Europe and beyond. Also, India did not sign the SCO Development Strategy for 2030, because the document "had too many Chinese catchphrases."
The New Delhi Declaration included a paragraph reaffirming support for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which India refused to sign. Earlier too, India had declined to sign the paragraph during the Samarkand declaration in 2022.
India also raised the connectivity issue. "Strong connectivity is crucial for the progress of any region. Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also fosters mutual trust. However, in these efforts, it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and regional integrity of the Member States," Modi said.
All SCO members, barring India and Russia, are part of BRI, which India objects to, since a major part of its project in Pakistan runs through the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
On Modi referring to the BRI, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "The references to sovereignty and territorial integrity came both in the context of the SCO charter and also in the context of the connectivity projects.”
However, Xi Jinping defended BRI and said, "China will hold the third 'Belt and Road' International Cooperation Summit Forum. All parties are welcome to participate in the activities of the forum and jointly pave the road to happiness that benefits the world."
Commenting on CPEC, Sharif said, "The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the BRI, can be a force multiplier not only for regional connectivity but also for regional stability, peace and prosperity."
Against the West
China’s focus at the summit, however, was the West, as was that of Russia, and India’s protest over BRI is not a worrying factor.
Hence, Xi said, “We uphold international fairness and justice, oppose hegemonic and bullying practices, expand the "circle of friends" of the organization, and build a partnership of dialogue rather than confrontation and partnership rather than alliance, strengthening the progressive force for maintaining world peace and stability.”
Both Xi and Putin pushed for switching to a system under which foreign trade could be settled in local currencies, a move that helps get around the use of the U.S. dollar, especially in the aftermath of sanctions following the Ukraine war.
India has refused to blame Russia for the war and has lifted bilateral trade largely by purchases of Russian oil to a record high, irking the West.
In his briefing, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The Russian president spoke of rumble-yuan exchange. We have also been supporting trading in national currencies."
Both Xi and Putin are expected to visit New Delhi in September as India hosts the G20 summit, and U. S. President Joe Biden and leaders of other member nations are also likely to be present.
The SCO summit took place barely two weeks after Modi was hosted by President Biden during a state visit, and the two countries called themselves "among the closest partners in the world".
And, China has repeatedly cautioned India, not to fall into the American trap. India is well aware that China is driving the relationship between India and the U.S. It is the only reason why Washington feted Modi. Hence, India would never throw its full weight behind Biden, if the China-U. S. confrontation escalates into a stand-off. India is just seeking to leverage its warming ties with the U.S. to its advantage. For India, camaraderie with China is precious, as a neighbour and both are civilizational nations.
Edited article in China-India Dialogue :
