The 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) took place on July 4, 2024, in Astana, Kazakhstan. This important gathering brought together leaders from various countries to discuss regional cooperation and security issues.
Host and Venue
- Host: Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
- Location: Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan
Notable Attendees
Several world leaders participated in the summit, including:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin
- Chinese President Xi Jinping
- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
India’s Representation
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend the summit
- India was represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar
Key Developments
1. Belarus Joins SCO
- Belarus was admitted as the 10th full member of the SCO
- Previously, Belarus held observer status in the organization
2. Focus on Combating Terrorism
- Dr. Jaishankar read Prime Minister Modi’s address at the summit
- Modi emphasized that terrorism in any form cannot be justified
- He called for decisive action against cross-border terrorism
- The Prime Minister stressed the need to counter terrorism financing and recruitment
3. SCO Expansion
- The SCO was originally established in 2001 with five members
- India and Pakistan joined in 2017
- Iran became the 9th member in 2023
- Belarus is now the 10th member as of 2024
Looking Ahead: 25th SCO Summit
- The next SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting will be held in China
- China has taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO from Kazakhstan
- The Chinese city of Qingdao has been named the SCO’s tourism and cultural capital for 2024-2025
About the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Purpose
- The SCO is an intergovernmental organization focused on regional security and cooperation
Concerns
- Some analysts worry that the SCO is becoming an anti-Western alliance led by China and Russia
- This may be one reason why Prime Minister Modi chose not to attend the summit
Structure
- The Council of Heads of States is the SCO’s highest decision-making body
- It meets once a year
Key Facts
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- Permanent Members: 10 countries (including the latest addition, Belarus)
- Observer Members: Afghanistan and Mongolia