The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) opened in Tianjin on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging members to adopt a clear and unanimous stance against terrorism while setting out security, connectivity and opportunity as India’s guiding principles for the bloc.
Addressing the Council of Heads of State, Modi said India had suffered the impact of terrorism for four decades, citing the April attack in Pahalgam. “This attack was an open challenge to every country and person who believes in humanity,” he said, stressing that “no double standards are acceptable on terrorism.”
The Tianjin Declaration issued at the meeting condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for perpetrators and sponsors of such violence to be brought to justice. It reaffirmed the SCO’s commitment to fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism, and rejected attempts to use such groups for “mercenary purposes.”
Modi also outlined India’s vision for stronger regional connectivity but with caution. “Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty loses trust and meaning,” he said, highlighting projects such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor as platforms to strengthen trade ties with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The Indian Prime Minister further proposed the creation of a “Civilisation Dialogue Forum” to deepen cultural exchange within the SCO, and invited member states to join what he described as India’s “Reform, Perform and Transform” development journey.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, hosting the 25th SCO summit, said the organisation bore greater responsibility in safeguarding regional peace and boosting development amid global uncertainty.He also urged members to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence, while rejecting what he described as a “Cold War mentality.” Xi expressed confidence that the grouping could play a bigger role in uniting the Global South and advancing human civilisation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his intervention, acknowledged efforts by China and India to address the Ukraine crisis.
The SCO, founded in 2001 in Shanghai, has expanded into a 26-nation framework comprising 10 full members, two observers and 14 dialogue partners. With China, Russia and India among its members, the bloc represents nearly half the world’s population and around a quarter of global GDP.
