India hosted SCO 2023 and opposed BRI once again

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted SCO Summit on 4th of July. It was a virtual summit attended by member countries like Russia, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan etc. While discussing security challenges and confrontational strategies in addressing issues, the joint meeting concluded various key messages. President Xi warns against external attempts to foment a new ‘cold war’, to prioritize regional peace, common security and pragmatic cooperation to expedite economic recovery, President Vladimir Putin mentioned external sanctions, pressure and provocations is making Russia stronger. It is developing and is united like never before. While Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said- No dilution in the objectives. Prime Minister Modi underlined India’s contribution to SCO and terrorism as a threat to regional and global peace.
SCO is a Shanghai Cooperation Organization started in 2001 by a group of countries. Headquarters situated in Beijing, China, its founders Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan came together to consider Eurasian political, economic, international security and defence collectively. Indian and Pakistan joined this cooperation in 2017 and SCO is still expanding with its latest addition of Iran. Country recently became full member of SCO and was welcomed by India. Experts are expecting this as a chance for India and Iran to boost their trade ties.
Political expert Dhara Bishnoi called SCO 2023 special for multiple reasons. She said, ‘India hosted SCO for the first time since its full membership in 2017. With responsibility of being a cordial host, India managed to convey some meaningful messages out there. It did not support BRI project despite of being the only member of SCO doing it. Like always, India emphasized on countering terrorism and to show no double standards on it. India did clear its stance once again with clear objectives and straightforward approach.’ India also created five focused areas of cooperation under SCO – start-ups and innovation, digital inclusion, empowering youth, traditional medicine and shared Buddhist heritage.
Dhara called these initiatives as the five pillars of Modi’s leading approach in SCO. ‘As I mentioned before, India very confidently managed to convey these five pillars under Modi’s administration involvement. Digital inclusion has become a major agenda for current administration, if we observe. They are trying to promote this digital advancement wherever they can with capable possibilities. It as a vast spectrum that includes communication, technology, financial and economic growth etc. Similarly, startups are emerging as a new trend with multiple opportunities’, she said. The growth of youth percentage in Indian population is an asset for the country’s development. According to the information, 65% of the Indian population is under 35 years old. Meaning more than half of the population has more chances of physical strength and fittest mind. Indian Prime Minister Modi brining ‘empowering youth’ as one of the focused areas highlighted India’s interest.
Dhara agreed and told EAT news, ‘Having a large proportion of youth is a plus point as a country. We have maximum people in our country who are learning and getting ready to become a part of development. These people are like treasure. They need to be guided in a correct direction for the betterment of their life and nation’s future.’ She further added that providing facilities, quality of knowledge and employment is a duty of administration to empower youth and build a leading nation.
Where the whole summit witness united agreements on various subjects, India’s stand on Belt and Road Initiative catched eyeballs. Project announced in 2013 by Chinese President Xi included ‘a vast network of railways, pipelines, energy, highways and streamlined border crossings both westward through the mountainous former Soviet Republics and southward to Pakistan, India and the rest of the Southeast Asia’, according to Council on Foreign relations. It is an ambitious project for the country and has been supported by 147 countries so far, that means two third of the world’s population. However, India has strongly opposed the project and refused to sign on it. Reason is the China-Pakistan economic corridor that violates India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
According to Dhara, BRI is a huge project that will affect India. She described the major points India is sticking with and said, ‘With this, China is trying to dominate the whole eastern and western hemisphere. China is well known for its expansion policy and it is part of the same. There is no transparency given to the countries who are joining, leaving them in unaware situation and dept trap is what experts are suspecting. Since the whole initiative is led by China, it is expected that majority of jobs and contracts will be given to the Chinese firms, which cannot be trusted. Also, the border dispute with the country makes unfavorable conditions for India to make alliance with China in any economic, financial or development tie.’ She completed saying, ‘India-China tie is affected by 2020 border clash and until it is not resolved, expecting a cooperation is not possible’.