Jaishankar’s remarks came as he addressed the 22nd session of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan…reports Asian Lite News
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should work together to promote stability and prosperity in the region by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and encouraging economic cooperation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday in an apparent dig at China.
Jaishankar’s remarks came as he addressed the 22nd session of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
“SCO should work together to promote stability and prosperity in the region by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and encouraging economic cooperation,” the minister said.
In this context, the centrality of the interests of Central Asian states plays a key role, he said.
Beijing is investing billions of dollars in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan. India has protested against the project in Pakistan as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“To improve trade within the region, we need robust connectivity and infrastructure. Such initiatives should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” he said.
Jaishankar emphasised the significance of the ‘centrality’ of interests of Central Asian countries in overcoming the global challenges and called for the ‘closer cooperation’ within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries.
“Today when the world is facing challenges, looming economic recession, broken supply chains, food and energy insecurity this calls for closer cooperation with the SCO, in this context, the centrality of the interests of Central Asian States plays a key role,” he said.
Addressing the SCO Heads of Government meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgystan, Jaishankar noted the overwhelming debts on the Global South from ‘opaque’ initiatives and said that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and International North-South Transport Corridor will bring economic stability to the region.
He added, “We should bear in mind that the Global South should not be saddled with unviable debt arising from opaque initiatives. I am confident that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and the International North-South Transport Corridor could become enablers in bringing economic prosperity to the region.”