S Jaishankar Meets Tajikistan, Belarus, and Russian Leaders at SCO Summit in Kazakhstan

Astana, Kazakhstan – External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with several key leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Meeting with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister

Jaishankar met with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin. They discussed their countries’ partnership and cooperation in multilateral forums. Jaishankar shared his appreciation for the exchange of views on regional situations.

Meeting with Belarus’ Foreign Minister

Jaishankar also met with Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov. They talked about the future growth potential of their bilateral relationship and welcomed Belarus as the newest member of the SCO.

Meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister

In a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jaishankar expressed strong concern for Indian nationals in the war zone in Russia. They also discussed the global strategic landscape and noted progress in many areas since their last meeting.

Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

Jaishankar visited Pushkin Park in Astana to pay tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, accompanied by members of the Indian community.

Welcome and Other Meetings

Upon his arrival in Astana, Jaishankar was welcomed by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakaye. He also met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to discuss expanding their strategic partnership and India’s engagement with Central Asia.

SCO Summit Goals

The SCO Summit aims to review the organization’s activities over the past two decades and discuss multilateral cooperation, regional, and international issues. India’s priorities in the SCO are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘SECURE’ SCO, focusing on Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection.