"Cooperation Must Be Based On Mutual Respect": S. Jaishankar At SCO Summit (image-X/DrSJaishankar)

While attending the second day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday highlighted the goal of combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism as the “three evils.”

He noted that the world was going through “two major conflicts,” each with significant global consequences, while the developing world continued to recover from the devastation, mounting debt, and other problems triggered by the COVID pandemic. At a time like this, the EAM said the solution lies in strengthening mutual trust, good neighbourliness, and building multi-faceted, especially regional, cooperation.

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The Minister also emphasised the need for SCO countries to practice cooperation based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, recognise territorial integrity and sovereignty, and build genuine partnerships and not unilateral agendas. “SCO cannot progress if we cherry-pick global practices, especially of trade and transit,” he said.

Jaishankar also noted that globalisation and rebalancing are current-day realities, and SCO countries need to take them forward.

Delivering India’s national statement at the summit of the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, the minister said, “Industrial cooperation can enhance competitiveness and expand labour markets. MSME collaboration, collaborative connectivity, environmental protection, and climate action are possible avenues. Whether it is health, food, or energy security, we are clearly better off working together.”

Jaishankar also named India’s global and national initiatives toward sustainability and holistic development, including the International Solar Alliance, Mission LiFE which advocates sustainable lifestyles, the Global Biofuel Alliance, the promotion of yoga, and similar efforts.

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Delivered 🇮🇳’s national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting today morning in Islamabad.

SCO needs to be able and adept at responding to challenges facing us in a turbulent world. In this context, highlighted that:

➡️ SCO’s primary goal of combatting… pic.twitter.com/oC2wHsWWHD

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 16, 2024

Jaishankar also congratulated Pakistan for its presidency of the SCO summit this year and extended India’s support for its success.