New Delhi: Addressing the virtual Shanghai Co-operation Summit on Friday, PM Modi asserted over radicalization and territorial connectivity with Central Asia. He said, “We believe that landlocked Central Asian countries can benefit immensely by connecting with India’s vast market. Any connectivity initiative cannot be one-way. To ensure mutual trust, connectivity projects should be consultative, transparent and participatory. There should be respect for the territorial integrity of all countries.”
Highlighting the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban he recommended SCO to develop a template that would effectively rule off radicalization and extremism not only for regional security but also to ensure a bright future for the youth.
The Summit commenced welcoming Iran as a new participant of the SCO. Additionally, the organization also added Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar as its new dialogue partners.
According to Modi, the 20th anniversary of SCO forms a prime point that would initiate a paradigm shift and overcome the biggest challenges related to peace, security and trust. Speaking about India emerging as a stakeholder in technology, he suggested that we must encourage our young talent towards science and rational thinking.