Tianjin, September 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the 25th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), urging member states to reject “double standards” on terrorism and strengthen cooperation in security, connectivity, and opportunity.
Thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for hosting the summit, Modi congratulated Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on their national days and said the SCO had emerged over 24 years as a vital link across Eurasia. He outlined India’s approach to the grouping through three pillars: Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity.
Firm Stand on Terrorism
Calling terrorism a shared challenge to humanity, the Prime Minister said no nation or citizen is immune to its impact. He highlighted India’s leadership in SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), including a recent joint information operation targeting Al-Qaeda and affiliates. “We must state it clearly and in one voice: double standards on terrorism are unacceptable,” he told fellow leaders.
Referring to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Modi said it was “an assault on the conscience of India and an open challenge to every individual who believes in humanity.” He thanked SCO members for their support and underlined India’s decades-long experience of battling terrorism.
Connectivity with Sovereignty
On the second pillar, Modi said connectivity projects must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the SCO Charter. Citing India’s work on the Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor, he said these initiatives would enhance linkages with Afghanistan and Central Asia. “Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty ultimately loses both trust and meaning,” he added.
Expanding Opportunities
The Prime Minister said India’s SCO presidency in 2023 had infused new ideas in areas such as start-ups, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, traditional medicine, and Buddhist heritage. He proposed the creation of a Civilizational Dialogue Forum under SCO to share art, literature, and traditions across member states.
Highlighting India’s domestic reform agenda, Modi said, “We are advancing with the motto of Reform, Perform, and Transform,” noting that India is turning challenges like the pandemic into opportunities. He invited SCO members to partner in India’s development journey.
Multilateral Reforms
Welcoming SCO’s decision to establish four new centres addressing organized crime, drug trafficking, and cybersecurity, Modi called for broader reform of global institutions. “The colourful dreams of the new generation cannot be displayed on a black-and-white screen. It is time to change the screen,” he said, urging members to support UN reform on its 80th anniversary.
The Prime Minister concluded by extending best wishes to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who will take over the SCO chairmanship.
