IRIA News

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gathered for the 23rd meeting of the heads of state on July 4, 2023, in a virtual summit hosted by India. The summit focused on forging deeper economic and security ties between the organization.

India took over the chairmanship of the SCO in September 2022 during the annual summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. China’s President Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as well as the leaders of the Central Asian countries joined the virtual summit.

Joint declaration

The summit ended with a joint declaration that said that SCO opposes the resolution of international and regional issues through “confrontational thinking”.

The joint declaration reaffirmed the SCO’s commitment to combating all forms of terrorism and radicalization and called for greater cooperation among SCO member states in the Eurasian region. It called for SCO member states to work together to promote tolerance, understanding, and respect for diversity.

The joint declaration also advocated for strict compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. “Member states that are also parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, advocate strict compliance with the Treaty, comprehensive balanced promotion of all goals and principles enshrined in the Treaty, strengthening of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and facilitation of an equal, mutually beneficial cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” the declaration reads.

All SCO members agreed to maintain stability in Afghanistan. The leaders stated that it is essential to “establish an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of representatives of all ethnic, religious and political groups in Afghan society”.

Modi’s opening remarks

During his opening remarks, the Indian Prime Minister took a veiled swipe at rival neighbor Pakistan while avoiding talking about the Ukraine war. He said that the group should not hesitate to criticize countries that are “using terrorism as an instrument of its state policy.”

Indian Prime Minister pushed the same narrative that his administration has been backing for years. New Delhi regularly accuses Pakistan of training and arming insurgent groups, a charge that Islamabad denies.

Xi Jinping urged to counteract hegemonism and power politics

Chinese President Xi Jinping also addressed the virtual summit. During his speech, Xi Jinping said that the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should counteract hegemonism and power politics on the international stage.

“It is necessary to implement multilateralism and fine-tune global management; we must stand up for shared human values, defend the UN-centric international system and a world order based on international law, counteract hegemonism and power politics,” he said.

The Chinese leader urged the leaders of SCO to facilitate the development of global management and make a joint contribution to maintaining international peace, global development, and the protection of the world order.

Chinese President Xi also urged all SCO member states to be vigilant “against outside interference in the region” and suggested working toward the uplifting of people in Afghanistan.

Putin urged SCO members to trade in local currencies

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first international appearance since the chaotic episode that unraveled in Moscow after Wagner mercenary group staged a short-lived mutiny in late June. “I would like to thank my colleagues from the SCO countries who expressed support for the actions of the Russian leadership to protect the constitutional order and the life and security of citizens.” Putting said during his speech.

Putin backed trade accords between SCO nations that encourage trade in local currencies in order to reduce reliance on the Western economies. He said that more than 80% of trade between the Chinese and Russian companies is being carried out in roubles and yuan. “Russia counters all these external sanctions, pressures, and provocations and continues to develop as never before,” he added.

Russian President also expressed his support for Belarus’s application to become a permanent member of the SCO next year. “Russia supports the swiftest possible completion of the process for the Republic of Belarus’ accession to the SCO. We are certain that the membership of Belarus, Russia’s strategic partner, and closest ally, will have a positive impact on the organization’s activities,” he said.

Iran becomes a full member

During the summit, the Islamic Republic of Iran was formally declared a full member of SCO. Leaders of the SCO congratulated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for becoming a part of the group. “The member countries stressed the historic significance of the admission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the SCO as a full member state,” the joint statement said.

SCO follows a rigorous process of admission. Iran originally requested to join the alliance 15 years ago and it was in 2021 that Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced the country’s admission into the group as the ninth member.