Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar recently paid a visit to Kyrgyzstan from October 25–26, mainly with the aim of attending the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting. Apart from attending the meeting, Dr. Jaishankar also met with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov and Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev to discuss various areas of cooperation.
Bilateral Cooperation with Kyrgyzstan:
Dr. Jaishankar spoke to his Kyrgyz counterpart Zheenbek Kulubaev on various issues, including “strengthening India-Kyrgyz cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, development projects, health, and education… (and) exchanged views on Afghanistan, West Asia and connectivity”. Dr. Jaishankar also called on President Sadyr Zhaparov, to speak on “cooperation in banking, energy, health and pharma, defense, agriculture and investments”. Apart from representing India in the SCO Conclave, Dr. Jaishankar also complimented Kyrgyzstan for its successful SCO Council of Heads of Government. His talks on bilateral collaboration with the heads of the country were quite well received.
Multilateral Cooperation:
In the SCO Conclave, Dr. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation to put forward the current issues of prime importance to multilateral relationships. He emphasized on the need to abide by international laws in order to maintain peace and stability in the regions concerning the SCO. This can be ensured by respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty and encouraging economic cooperation among countries. In this light, he urged closer cooperation within the SCO.
Dr. Jaishankar pointed out the need for “robust connectivity and infrastructure” to improve trade in the region. He also added that such cooperation must be well within the ambit of international laws on territorial integrity. He emphasized on the crucial role played by Central Asian countries in the matter. He stressed the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and the International North-South Transport Corridor in becoming economic “prosperity enablers” in the region. However, he issued a caution regarding the Global South being “saddled with unviable debt.”
Shanghai Cooperation Organization:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is composed of nine countries: China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This intergovernmental organization was founded in Shanghai, China, in 2001. Since its formation, it has mainly focused on maintaining regional security and has been dedicatedly working against all forms of extremism—regional, ethnic, and religious. This year, Kyrgyzstan was the host of the 22nd SCO meeting, which was held in Bishkek.
Conclusion:
Dr. Jaishankar further emphasized the need for the SCO countries to work with closer cooperation especially at this juncture when the world is facing “looming economic recession, broken supply chains, and food and energy insecurity.” He also pointed out the resilience of the Indian economy and the growth in its bilateral trade with member states of the SCO, especially Russia, in the last year. He conveyed India’s interest in partnering with SCO states for sustainable and mutually beneficial solutions.
