Respect each others’ territorial integrity,PM's address in SCO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave a stern message to China and Pakistan while address the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. In his speech, delivered via video conferencing, PM Modi said that all member nations should respect each others' territorial integrity. “India has strong cultural and historical ties with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries...India believes that to enhance connectivity it is important that we move forward while respecting one another's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

"It is unfortunate that there are unnecessary attempts to bring bilateral issues in the SCO agenda, which is in violation of SCO Charter and Shanghai spirit," the prime minister said.Modi said that India will use its vaccine production and distribution capacity to help the world fight the coronavirus pandemic and India is the “largest vaccine producting country” in the world. “In this very difficult time of unprecedented epidemic, India’s pharma industry has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries. As the world’s largest vaccine producing country, India will use its vaccine production and distribution capacity to help the whole humanity in fighting this crisis,” PM Modi said.

The SCO summit is being held virtually this year due to travel restrictions and safety concerns in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The summit is likely to be dominated by the adverse economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the rising threat of terrorism. According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry earlier, the summit is expected to focus on countering the spread of terrorism including the use of the internet for spreading radicalisation, as also issues relating to trade and economic activities.