India’s SCO membership will help drive region’s economic growth:pm

AS THE final process for India’s accession as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the partnership will help protect the region from threats of radicalisation, violence and terror and drive its economic growth.

In his address at the SCO summit, Modi said India would significantly benefit from the grouping’s strengths in energy and natural resources and in turn India’s strong economy and vast market could drive economic growth in the SCO region. “India’s membership of SCO would contribute to the region’s prosperity. It would also strengthen its security. Our partnership will protect our societies from the threats of radical ideologies of hate, violence and terror. India will unite with SCO countries to work towards this goal. And, we will adopt zero tolerance and a comprehensive approach in fighting terrorism at all levels,” said Modi.

At the summit, India signed the SCO’S Memorandum of Obligations, kick-starting the process of its accession into the group as a full member. India will have to sign around 30 other documents in the course of the year to complete the process for membership.

Pakistan is also being inducted into SCO as a full member.

“We are indeed grateful to the SCO member states and its leaders for their overwhelming support for India’s membership of the SCO. I also welcome Pakistan as the new member of the SCO,” Modi said.

Seeking deeper economic engagement, Modi said India’s capacities in trade, investments, information and communication technology, space, agriculture, health care, small and medium scale industry can bring widespread economic benefit to the SCO countries — Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

“We would represent 40 per cent of humanity and over a billion youth. To this group, India brings principles that are in tune with the philosophies of the SCO. India has always enjoyed good relations with the Eurasian land mass,” the Prime Minister said.

He said India will be a productive partner in the SCO in promoting trade, energy cooperation and developing transport links in the region, besides people-to-people contact. “Our decision to join the international North South Transport Corridor, the Chabahar Agreement, and Ashgabat Agreement reflects this desire and intent,” he said.

Talking about Afghanistan, Modi said a stable, independent and peaceful Afghanistan is not just a “sincere desire” of each Afghan but it is also necessary for greater security and stability in the SCO region. PTI