ICWA organised an online Conference ‘SCO & India: The Trajectory Ahead’ on 29 October 2021. The Conference consisted of Inaugural Session and two technical sessions - first, SCO in Regional & Global Flux, and second, India in SCO. The Inaugural Session was addressed by Ambassador Vladimir Norov, Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Beijing; Ambassador Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; and Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, Director General, ICWA. The event was attended by area experts, academics, diplomats and researchers.
In her remarks, Amb. Vijay Thakur Singh, Director General, ICWA said that the importance of SCO as an effective regional voice is growing. Its decision-making process based on consensus has been useful in expanding the agenda as well as the membership. 2020 was important for India-SCO engagement as, for the first time, 19th Council of Heads of Government Summit (online) was hosted by Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Ambassador Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West), MEA in her Special Remarks said that India played a positive and constructive role that contributed to the growth and prosperity of the SCO region. A key area of focus for India is peace and security in the region which is also the mandate of the SCO Charter. India values the ongoing cooperation in Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in countering terrorism, separatism and extremism, terror financing, illegal trafficking of drugs, arms and ammunition. India as the current Chair of SCO RATS (2021-22) hoped to give a new direction and momentum to its work and activities.
Ambassador Vladimir Norov, Secretary General, SCO in his Opening Address noted that ICWA was an effective intellectual centre capable of generating productive ideas to improve SCO’s functioning and promote common interests in the international arena. He mentioned that the Afghan issue is at the top of the SCO agenda. SCO advocates the establishment of an independent, neutral, democratic and peaceful Afghanistan – an inclusive government with participation from all ethnic, religious and political groups of the Afghan society. Amb. Norov expressed appreciation for India’s active involvement in SCO activities since becoming a full member in 2017. India’s membership had significantly broadened SCO’s geographical reach and raised its profile and influence in the region and the world. He added that India had huge potential in terms of trade and economics, S&T cooperation, alternative energy sources, IT, tele-medicine, pharma, hospitality and tourism.
This first technical session was Chaired by Amb. P. Stobdan, Senior Fellow, Delhi Policy Group, New Delhi. The Speakers were: Prof. Ram Upendra Das, Head, Centre for Regional Trade, New Delhi; Dr. Poonam Mann, Associate Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi; and Prof. Suba Chandran, Dean, School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS, Bangalore. The second session was Chaired by Amb. Yogendra Kumar, former Ambassador of India to Tajikistan, and the Speakers were: Prof. Ajay Patnaik, former Dean and Professor, SIS, JNU, New Delhi; Mr. Pankaj Tandon, Chief Operating Officer (International Business) & Chief Business Officer, M/s Transrail Lighting Limited, India, represented FICCI, New Delhi; and Dr. Athar Zafar, Senior Research Fellow, ICWA. In technical sessions, participants exchanged views on SCO in regional and global flux, and India-SCO engagement. It was observed that, with Iran as a new member and Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt as three observers, expansion had strengthened SCO and opened new prospects for enhanced economic and strategic dynamism. India saw vast potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the SCO region in the areas of security, trade, connectivity and culture.
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