India’s Jaishankar Urges SCO Nations to Uphold International Law and Respect Sovereignty

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the 22nd session of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He urged member nations to prioritize adherence to international law, respect for sovereignty, and enhanced economic cooperation. His remarks implicitly alluded to China’s investments in projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan, which India has protested due to its passage through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Key Points:

1. Principles of International Law: Jaishankar stressed the importance of member nations working together to promote regional stability and prosperity by strictly adhering to the principles of international law, respecting one another’s sovereignty, and territorial integrity. These comments are seen as a veiled reference to China’s activities.
2. Central Asian Interests: Recognizing the centrality of the interests of Central Asian states, Jaishankar highlighted the deep civilizational ties shared by India with the SCO region. He emphasized the historical relationships as a foundation for greater economic cooperation.
3. Connectivity and Infrastructure: To improve regional trade, Jaishankar advocated robust connectivity and infrastructure development. He emphasized that such initiatives should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. This statement indirectly criticized China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has faced allegations of launching unviable infrastructure projects, leading to debt traps in various countries.
4. India’s Economic Corridors: Jaishankar highlighted the potential of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as “prosperity enablers.” IMEC, often seen as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced by several nations, including the US, India, and members of the European Union. The INSTC is a multi-mode transport network connecting India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
5. Global South Debt Concerns: The minister expressed concerns about the Global South being burdened with unviable debt resulting from opaque initiatives, indirectly referencing China’s financial practices and debt accumulation in various countries.
6. SCO Presidency Initiatives: Jaishankar mentioned India’s focus on five new verticals of cooperation during its SCO presidency, including Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Science and Technology, Youth Empowerment, and Shared Buddhist Heritage. He highlighted the relevance of these themes and announced the adoption of a Statement on Cooperation in Digital Transformation and the institutionalization of a Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation.

In his address, Jaishankar underlined the significance of respecting international norms, sovereignty, and fostering economic collaboration among SCO member nations. These remarks signify India’s commitment to regional stability and cooperation while addressing concerns related to debt and infrastructure development.

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