The PM of India was speaking at the 24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, Astana, Kazakhstan, where he reiterated one of the original goals of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He brought out that the SCO is a very important organization to have the fight against terrorism and to safeguard territorial integrity in the region at the top of its agenda.
"We all have experienced this, most of the time having its roots outside our own territory. Let there be no doubt that unchecked, it is a menace to regional and global peace. There is no justification or just cause for any type of terrorism or manifestation of terrorism," EAM Jaishankar said while delivering the message from PM Modi.
"International community must isolate and expose those countries that harbor terrorists, provide safe havens, and condone terrorism. Cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered," said PM Modi in his message to the SCO community.
The gathering of leaders, among them Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping, is expected to discuss major global issues against the backdrop of the pandemic impact, ongoing conflicts, rising tensions, trust deficits, and hotspots increasing around the world.
"It is particularly important that we reaffirm respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force as the basis of our relations. We have also agreed that neither side shall take any action contrary to the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity," PM Modi said.
She found the need for Common Ground that the SCO had to furnish in the context of these global developments, and congratulated the new members of the organization, Iran and Belarus.
"Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects," the PM said.
PM Modi also shared that India has promised to achieve 'AI for All' and technology for welfare and progress in the 21st century.
India's priorities at the SCO Summit, as encapsulated in Prime Minister Modi's vision of SECURE: Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, Environmental protection, and underlined India's proactive role in the organization under his leadership.
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