SCO Public Diplomacy Forum
11 May 2022, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
“Characteristics of India’s Public Diplomacy in SCO space”
Dr. Athar Zafar
Head, SCO Study Centre
Indian Council of World Affairs
New Delhi
At the outset, on behalf of Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi, let me warmly thank the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, and especially, Madam Tanzila Kamalovna Narbayeva; Mr. Kabuljon Sabirov, Director, SCO Center for Public Diplomacy, Tashkent, and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for their kind invitation to the Council to participate in the SCO Public Diplomacy Forum here today in Tashkent.
I also deeply thank the organisers for the warm hospitality and efficient management.
1. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was formed in 2001 and in a short period of time of two decades the organisation has emerged as an authoritative collective voice of regional countries in the Eurasian space. The achievements of SCO are primarily due to the steady roles played by the Organization and various initiatives associated with it, including the Public Diplomacy Forum, in the region. Addressing online the 21st Meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State in September 2021, which was held in Tajikistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “One of the main reasons for the success of SCO is that its core focus has been on the priorities of the region.”
2. India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction in the region. The Indian Council of World Affairs is privileged to participate in the SCO’s academic and public diplomacy activities. We thank the Uzbek chair for organizing the People’s Diplomacy forum as this event in particular, will be another step towards strengthening as well as further developing multilateral cooperation within SCO format.
3. This Public Diplomacy Forum is being held at a time when a churning is going on in regional and international engagements. The rise of the East is changing the economic, political, security and cultural landscapes, and equations. The global community is trying to cope up with the testing times amid multiple transitions. The world witnessed an unprecedented lethal impact of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) on movement, economy and public health. It is still recovering from the pandemic’s shock.
4. SCO promotes connectivity in the region in all areas. Between South Asia and Central Asia a strong impetus of inter-regional connectivity can be made by promoting people to people contact and by way of public diplomacy, which would also boost tourism and cultural contacts. Connectivity has been termed as an ‘economic multiplier’. India is committed to increasing its connectivity with Central Asia. It has special relations and key partnerships with Central Asian countries.
5. In recent years, India has increased its public diplomacy initiatives, especially digital, resulting in a magnified impact in shaping public opinion and reaching to a wider audience. These efforts have played a critical role in creating awareness of the India’s foreign policy as proactive and effective. The public diplomacy effort of India is directed not only towards introducing the global audience to ancient Indian philosophy and thoughts that inspired the universally accepted principle like Vasudhaiva Kutumbhkam, but also to informing them of contemporary India and the transformation taking place therein through various flagship programmes of the Government of India. India’s membership thus adds a great deal to SCO’s public diplomacy.
6. Increasing people’s stake in the SCO is critical and India has launched various initiatives in public diplomacy domain. During India’s Chairmanship of Council of Heads of Government in 2020, an attempt at highlighting our shared history was made. India organised the first-ever virtual exhibition of shared Buddhist heritage in SCO Member States that was widely appreciated. India also took the initiative to translate 10 Indian regional literary classics into Russian and Chinese languages. India has also focused on creating new areas of cooperation- i.e. in the field of Startups and innovation, Science & Technology and traditional medicine. Aimed at reconnecting the youth and entrepreneurs of the region, the first ever Young Scientists’ Conclave and Consortium of SCO Economic Think Tanks hosted by India witnessed overwhelming participation. India also hosted SCO seminar on role of women in armed forces in October 2021 in virtual format.
7. In an effort to widen the fight against COVID-19 India voluntarily offered to share with SCO countries its open-source technologies of robust digital platforms like the Aarogya-Setu and COWIN applications. India has shared these technologies with other countries. In order to promote financial inclusion in the region, India also offered to share its technologies like the UPI and Rupay Card with SCO countries. These policy initiatives are aimed at taking the advantage of mutual cooperation to the common people.
8. Besides, in the wider public diplomacy framework, India has taken several initiatives to introduce and popularize the cultural and historical legacy abroad. On the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, of special note was the launch of a video medley of the Gandhi Ji’s favourite hymn. The bhajan ‘Vaishnava Jana To’ was performed by singers from 155 countries around the world, including from the SCO countries.
9. International Day of Yoga is another important example. The declaration of 21st June as the International Day of Yoga by UN with a record number of 177 co-sponsoring member states was one of the most effective demonstration of India’s soft power which showcased the strength of India’s old traditions that had wide acceptance across the world. Consequently, countries across the world observe the Yoga day enthusiastically.
10. Some other important public diplomacy initiatives in the recent years have included the following aspects:
(a) Development Cooperation and Capacity Building -Development cooperation programmes with partner countries, cooperation on heritage conservation, cooperation on humanitarian front, intensified engagements with various regions of the world has been integral to India’s foreign policy.
(b) Medicine Diplomacy – India is known as the pharmacy of the world. More than 150 countries were supplied medicine and other medical items during the ongoing pandemic.
11. Indian Diaspora: India’s vibrant cultural and civilization heritage is represented abroad through its Diaspora spread around the world, including in the SCO space, representing Indian values of inclusiveness and dialogues between cultures and civilizations.
12. Currently, India is celebrating Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate the 75th year of Indian Independence across the world. Indian Diaspora, Members of Indian community, friends of India are enthusiastically participating in the series of events being organised to showcase myriad facets of India, including economic growth and development; governance; technology; vision for growing India. Various events also being organised to showcase India’s art, culture, philosophy, and traditional systems like Yoga and Ayurveda to the world.
13. Similarly, dear participants, the Indian Council of World Affairs, has been playing its role in public diplomacy sphere in the country. The Council was established in 1943 by a group of eminent intellectuals. It has been accorded by the government to be the nodal think tank for academic engagement with the SCO Forum. The council has established a dedicated SCO Study Centre. It regularly organizes an array of intellectual activities including conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions, lectures and brings out a range of publications, contributing towards the objectives of public diplomacy.
14. In the digital age, the print and electronic media have been playing significant role in taking diplomacy to the public. People’s opinion is now a significant component, which is shaped and influenced by the public diplomacy. It has helped diplomacy becoming much more responsive and flexible. Interestingly, governments are responding and showing flexibility towards the aspiration of the people.
15. In the end, we may like to congratulate Uzbekistan for their on-going Chairmanship of SCO for the year 2021-2022 and convey best wishes for successful Summit in the historic city of Samarqand in September 2022.
16. And we shall seek support and cooperation of the Uzbek side for India’s upcoming Chairmanship of SCO Council of Heads of State in 2022-2023.
Thank you!
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