Why in News?

The 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Leaders from the region came together to discuss important issues. India played a key role, with the External Affairs Minister sharing the Prime Minister's message about fighting terrorism and tackling climate change.

Note: China will take over as the SCO chair for the next term, and Qingdao, China, will be the SCO’s tourism and cultural capital for 2024-2025.

Key Highlights of SCO Summit 2024

  • New Membership: Belarus is now the 10th member of the SCO. India's External Affairs Minister met with Belarus's counterpart to strengthen ties.

  • Astana Declaration: The summit agreed on the Astana Declaration and made 25 strategic deals related to energy, security, trade, finance, and information security.

    • The SCO Development Strategy until 2035 was adopted, including plans to combat terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking, and enhance energy cooperation and economic growth.

    • Commitments included signing a memorandum to fight illegal drug trafficking and a plan to handle international information security issues.

  • India-China Relations: India's External Affairs Minister met the Chinese Foreign Minister during the summit. They emphasized the need to fully disengage troops and restore peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Both agreed to speed up efforts through diplomatic and military channels to solve issues in Eastern Ladakh.

  • Make in India and Global Economic Growth: The 'Make in India' initiative was highlighted as having the potential to drive global economic growth. India is open to partnering with other nations, especially in the Global South, for capacity building and economic development.

  • Combat Terrorism: India’s External Affairs Minister called on the global community to isolate countries that support terrorists. He stressed the need to counter cross-border terrorism and highlighted the importance of combating terrorism within the SCO framework, especially through the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).

  • Russian President's Emphasis: The Russian President emphasized the SCO's role in promoting a fair, multipolar world order.

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