Astana:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed SCO summit in Kazakhstan's Astana, where he pitched for coordinated efforts to counter the menace of terrorism. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also addressed the Summit, congratulating India on joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
PM Modi and Sharif had on Thursday night exchanged pleasantries at a cultural gala in Astana, amid frosty bilateralties, deadlocked talks and escalation of hostilities along theLoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier on Friday, PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the SCO summit and discussed ways to improve bilateral ties hit by growing differences over a host of issues including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and India’s NSG membership bid.
Here are the live updates:
#2:10 PM: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif addresses SCO Summit
-We must leave a legacy of peace for future generations; not toxic harvest of conflict and animosity; let's create shared spaces for all
-I congratulate India on joining The Shanghai Cooperation Organization:
#2:00 PM: PM Modi addresses SCO summit in Kazakhstan's Astana
-Impossible to reach a solution till all make concerted efforts, on radicalisation, terrorist recruitment/training/financing issues
-Will have to make coordinated efforts to counter the menace of terrorism
-After 12 years of observership, will get membership of SCO. Want to thank all members for their support
It was the first meeting between the two leaders after India boycotted the high-profile Belt and Road Forum held in Beijing last month in which 29 world leaders took part.
India abstained from the summit to highlight its concerns over the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and passes through Gilgit and Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Prime Minister Modi and Xi are here in the Kazakh capital to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
“We spoke about India-China relations and how to further improve ties,” Modi tweeted after his meeting with Xi, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China.
China is vocal about its stand to block India’s admission into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). It had also stalled India’s move to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN.
After Astana, Modi and Xi are also expected to cross paths at the G20 summit to be held next month in Hamburg, Germany followed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) summit to be held in Xiamen, China in September.
Modi also met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the SCO.
“Taking forward #IndiaUzbekistan coop’n. PM @narendramodi meets President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan on the sidelines of SCO Summit,” Baglay tweeted.
