New Delhi:
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday stressed upon the need to promote regional peace, fight terrorism and address climate change, and urged the SCO member countries to come together to address these global challenges.
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Swaraj, addressing the two-day conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)'s Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in Dushanbe, called on Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and heads of delegation from other SCO countries.
WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj speaking at SCO Heads of Government Meet in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. https://t.co/9qnxpH2uDF
— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2018
Swaraj highlighted the need for SCO member countries to fight terrorism together, address climate change, promote connectivity and regional peace, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj speaking at the Extended Format Meeting of the #SCO Heads of Government Council Meeting in Dushanbe: We support an open, stable international trade regime based on centrality of the World Trade Organization. Full speech at https://t.co/nmPTwo78DR. pic.twitter.com/GSbTCe6TD0
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 12, 2018
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Apart from the global challenges, the CHG meeting is also expected to review the situation in Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean peninsula.
India became a full member of the SCO in June 2017. India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and has participated in its ministerial-level meetings. India’s presence is expected to increase the bloc's heft in regional geopolitics and trade negotiations besides giving it a pan-Asian hue.
Pakistan was also granted membership of the SCO last year. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi attended the conclave this time.
The SCO currently has eight-member countries which represent around 42 percent of the world's population and 20 percent of the global GDP.
