New Delhi [India], August 26 (ANI): The declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China is under finalisation, and India is working with other member states to ensure strong condemnation of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Japan and China, Lal emphasized that combating terrorism remains a key objective of the SCO.
“The declaration at this summit is under finalisation. We are working with other members and partners to ensure there is a reiteration of the strong condemnation of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. But the text is still under finalisation,” Lal stated.
He noted that the challenge of terrorism persists and that regional security continues to be a priority for SCO members. He further recalled that in the past, the SCO had issued strong condemnations of terrorism, including in the joint statement finalized during India’s presidency of the 23rd SCO Summit.
Earlier this month, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Parliament that the main goals and tasks of the SCO, outlined in Article 1 of its Charter, include combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism in all their forms, along with fighting illicit narcotics and arms trafficking, other types of transnational crime, and illegal migration.
Prime Minister Modi will travel to Tianjin, China, to participate in the SCO Summit scheduled for August 31 to September 1. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. (ANI)
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