India on Tuesday again refused to support China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), becoming the only country in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) not to support the project.
A statement issued at the end of a virtual summit of the grouping hosted by India said Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the BRI.
She said that member states also consider it important to ensure the implementation of the SCO 2030 Economic Development Strategy adopted by “interested member states” and projects aimed at promoting cooperation in the areas of the digital economy, high technologies and the modernization of existing international routes for road and rail transport.
In his opening address at the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need to enhance connectivity, but said it was essential to respect the core principles of the SCO charter, particularly the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, in making these efforts.
The summit chaired by Modi was joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders of the grouping.
“Strong connectivity is essential for the development of any region. Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also promotes mutual trust,” he said.
“However, in this effort, it is essential to adhere to the basic principles of the SCO charter, especially respect for the sovereignty and regional integrity of member states,” Modi said.
Also, on earlier occasions, India did not support BRI in SCO while other members supported the project.
“The Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan note the ongoing work on the joint implementation of this project, reaffirming their support for China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI). including efforts to link the building of the Eurasian Economic Union and the BRI,” said a statement from New Delhi.
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“They spoke in favor of the implementation of the Roadmap for gradually increasing the share of national currencies in mutual settlement by interested member states,” it added.
She said member states intend to expand and deepen cooperation for sustainable socio-economic development and improve the welfare and living standards of people in the SCO region.
“They consider it important to ensure the implementation of the SCO 2030 Economic Development Strategy adopted by the interested member states, other joint programs and projects aimed at promoting cooperation,” they said.
The priority areas set out in the Economic Development Strategy are the digital economy, high technology and innovation, modernization of existing international routes for road and rail transport, multimodal transport corridors and logistics centers, finance and investment, energy and food security, reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains and industrial cooperation.
Regarding Afghanistan, the declaration states that member states believe that one of the most important factors in maintaining and enhancing security and stability in the SCO region is the “early settlement” of the situation in Afghanistan.
“They promote the building of Afghanistan as an independent, neutral, united, democratic and peaceful state, free of terrorism, wars and drugs,” the statement said.
