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| SCO Virtual Summit 2023 Image Credit: Google |
Adil Javed
The Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) recently held a virtual summit hosted by India.
The summit drew
the participation of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin
and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This has also
marked Vladmir Putin's first appearance at an international event since the
short-lived rebellion staged by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in June.
Shanghai Cooperation
Organization represents a complex web of alliances, regional states with rivalries,
and holds greater political significance in world politics, amidst recent
events in Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
How Many Members are in SCO?
The SCO is a trade and security bloc that was founded in 2001 and currently includes as full members China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran has joined as the 9th member from 4th of July, 2023.
How SCO Can Ensure Regional Cooperation?
The SCO is an
intergovernmental organisation that offers Eurasian nations believing in a
multipolar world a chance to balance their interests amid growing global
geopolitical tensions.
With full
members including India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the SCO holds geographical and economic
significance.
SCO is home to
approximately 40% of the world's population while it contributes around 30% of
global GDP.
What are the aims of SCO particularly in 2023?
The recent SCO
summit focused on:
- Security and economic cooperation,
- Combating Terrorism,
- Drug Trafficking,
- Addressing Climate Change, and
- Discussing the situation in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister
Modi emphasized the SCO's role as a platform for peace, prosperity, and development
in the Asian region.
SCO's View on the Ukraine Conflict
The SCO
countries have refrained from openly criticizing Russia since its invasion of
Ukraine in 2022.
China has
maintained close diplomatic ties with Russia, ramping up trade while remaining politically
ambivalent towards the war.
India has
sought to strike a delicate balance by increasing its purchases of discounted
Russian oil, maintaining high-level contacts, and abstaining from voting on UN
resolutions condemning the war.
Iran has
actively supported Russia, signing military deals to seek new economic
lifelines.
What are the issues of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?
Despite its
unity on some fronts, the SCO faces tensions among its members.
China and India
have experienced a prolonged border standoff, while India and Pakistan continue
to have strained relations.
Kazakhstan has
shown signs of pivoting away from Russia that has lead tensions between the two
nations.
Nevertheless,
the SCO provides a platform for dialogue and cooperation among nations with
diverse interests.
Pakistani PM’s Address at the Summit
During the SCO
virtual summit, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for condemning
terrorism in "clear and unambiguous terms."
He emphasized
the shared interest of SCO member states in ensuring peace, stability, and
economic development in the region.
Prime Minister
Shehbaz also highlighted the critical role of stability in Afghanistan and
urged meaningful engagement with the interim Afghan government.
Call for Promoting Fundamental Rights, Peace, and Stability
Prime Minister
Shehbaz emphasized the importance of guaranteeing fundamental rights and
freedoms for all, including those "under occupation."
He called for
opposing divisive policies based on prejudice and discrimination, particularly
Islamophobia.
Prime Minister
Shehbaz emphasized the observance of UN principles, such as sovereignty,
territorial integrity, and the people's right to self-determination, to resolve
long-standing disputes in the region.
What is the
Role of SCO in Geopolitics?
The SCO members
gathered at a critical juncture, facing important developments in the
socio-economic and security spheres.
The SCO, with
its fundamental values rooted in the Shanghai spirit, provides stability,
security, peace, and progress.
Projects like
the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), plays a defining role in the in
the region and the globe includes:
- Regional Connectivity
- Modern Global Economy,
- Fostering Peace and prosperity, and
- Regional Trade.
Conclusive Views:
The Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) serves as a vital platform for regional
cooperation, uniting nations with diverse interests and promoting peace,
stability, and economic development.
Despite
tensions among members, the SCO has become a beacon of stability in an era of
geopolitical flux.
It remains a
significant force in shaping regional dynamics and fostering dialogue among
nations, highlighting the importance of multilateralism in addressing global
challenges.
(Courtesy:
Dawn. Al-Jazeera, Reuters)
Also Read: Pakistan's Engagement with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
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