Russia and China generally controls SCO events and agendas, Pakistan is also a member
New Delhi
The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital during the period 2022-2023 at the 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Friday, September 16.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Xi Jinping of China had participated in the Summit.
"The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital will promote tourism, cultural and
humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member Countries," an MEA release said.
The move also underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with Member States of SCO, especially the Central Asian Republics.
"Under the framework of this major cultural outreach program, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during
2022-23, for which guests will be invited to participate from SCO Member States," the release said.
These events are expected to attract Indologists, scholars, authors, musicians and artists, photojournalists,
travel bloggers and other invited guests.
The regulations for nomination of the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital were adopted at the
Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021 with an objective of promoting cooperation between the SCO
Member States in the field of culture and tourism, the release said.
The full SCO membership was given to India and Pakistan in 2017.
Belarus, Mongolia and Afghanistan have observer status but no Taliban regime was invited
for the Dushanbe in 2021 event as SCO members have reservations about the new dispensation in Kabul.
Taliban was not invited in 2022 as well.
Iran is also a member of SCO while platform currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan),
Importantly, six other countries – Sri Lanka, Turkey, Nepal, Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
are ‘negotiating partners’ of the SCO which is generally seen as a body controlled jointly by Russia and China.
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PM Modi holds bilateral meetings with Putin, Iran President
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)and urged him to end the conflict soon.
"In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of hostilities and the need for dialogue and diplomacy," an MEA release said.
In his opening remarks during bilateral talk with Putin, the Prime Minister said "I know that today's era is not of war and we have spoken to you many times on the phone that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue are such things that touch the world".
During the meeting both the leaders appreciated the sustained momentum in bilateral ties, including contacts at various levels.
President Putin expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister’s video-message at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier this month, the MEA release said.
The leaders discussed important issues of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of interest.
"Discussions also pertained to global food security, energy security and availability of fertilizers in the context of the challenges emanating from the current geo-political situation," the statement said.
This was the first meeting of both leaders this year, which marks the 75th anniversary year of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia (earlier Soviet Union). Both Modi and Putin agreed to "remain in touch", the MEA
stated.
PM Modi and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi also held bilateral talks.
This was the first meeting between Modi and President Raisi since President Raisi’s assumption of office in 2021.
During the meeting the two leaders discussed many important issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship, and expressed their desire for strengthening the relationship further.
The Prime Minister highlighted that India-Iran bilateral ties are marked by historic and civilizational connections, including strong people to people contacts.
The two leaders reviewed the progress in the development of the Shahid Behesti terminal, Chabahar Port and underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in the field of regional connectivity.
The two leaders also discussed international and regional developments including Afghanistan. Mr Modi reiterated India’s priorities of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and the need for a representative and inclusive political dispensation in Kabul in support of a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan.
President Raisi briefed the Prime Minister on the status of the JCPOA negotiations, the MEA stated.
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