Modi's emphasis on turning SCO cooperation into tangible benefits and putting peace and security at the center of people for the next 25 years

At the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India's thinking as based on the three pillars of security, coordination and opportunity and said that for this it is necessary to destroy the entire system of terrorism. He called for India's thinking for the next 25 years of the SCO to translate into concrete results by advancing the three pillars of security, coordination and opportunity. He said that the first requirement is peace and security and the destruction of the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, extremism and safe havens.
He said, "The first requirement is - peace and security. Terrorism remains a serious challenge for the entire humanity today. We cannot be limited to action-reaction thinking in the fight against it. We have to destroy the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, extremism and safe havens. We have to speak with one voice that there can be no room for double standards on this sensitive subject."
He emphasized in the presence of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the President of China that there can be no place for double standards on terrorism and countries that make terrorism a tool of their policy and give shelter and support to terrorists, must send a clear message that terrorism cannot be a strategic asset for anyone.
Mr. Modi said that over the last 25 years, the SCO has developed a strong tradition of dialogue and cooperation across the Eurasian continent. The goal now should be to turn cooperation into tangible results over the next 25 years. He said that the world is going through an era of uncertainty and instability and the shared geography has to be transformed into shared opportunities to bring positive changes in people's lives.
The Prime Minister said that the fight against terrorism cannot be limited only to thinking about action and reaction. The common desire for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan. India has been and will continue to support the development and humanitarian assistance of the people of Afghanistan.
He said that in today's interconnected world, the conflict in one region is not limited there. The crisis in West Asia affects the entire world's energy security, maritime trade and supply chains, with countries in the Global South suffering the most. Therefore, all tensions and wars can be resolved not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Prime Minister described drug trafficking as not only a crime, but a serious threat to the youth and regional security. He said that the centers being established under the SCO to deal with challenges like security threats, organized crime, information security and drugs should be made effective means of operational coordination and time-bound measures.
Terming connectivity as the second pillar of common development, the Prime Minister said that India supports all efforts that connect markets, facilitate trade and open new avenues of development. However, these efforts must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, which is also the basic spirit of the SCO Charter. He said that in the coming time, customs procedures along with roads, railways and air corridors will have to be simplified, digital documents will be promoted and logistics network will be made more efficient.
Describing the occasion as the third pillar, the Prime Minister said that the benefit of SCO cooperation should reach the people directly. For India, the SCO is a confluence of great civilizations, cultures and ideas and should put people-to-people relations at the center of cooperation over the next 25 years. He said that the real measure of success will be how many new opportunities the youth get, how many new markets are opened for industrialists, how much the farmers get the benefit of technology and how much the lives of the citizens improve.
The Prime Minister said that cooperation in SCO should not only be government-led, but people-led. Mentioning the special emphasis on the participation of youth in SCO under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan, he said that India has taken initiatives like Startup Forum, Young Writers Conference and Young Scientists Forum in SCO. Last year, India proposed the SCO Civil Dialogue Forum and its first session will be held in India this year.
Mr. Modi said that the diversity of the SCO is its identity and common purpose is its strength. Bishkek must commit to moving from shared geography to shared opportunities, from vision to results, and from government-led cooperation to people-led partnerships. India is ready to extend its support to the joint journey of SCO with the same confidence and determination.