The Defence Minister of India recently attended the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on 2nd November, 2019 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This was the third CHG meeting for India since it became a full member of this intergovernmental international organisation in 2017. Established in 2001, SCO aims to encourage mutual trust and neighbourliness among its member states. Today, it includes eight member states with its Secretariat based in Beijing, China.
Key Takeaways from the SCO Meeting
Several key points were discussed during the SCO meeting. Among these were common challenges such as terrorism, climate change, endemic poverty, and inequality. The participants agreed on the necessity of working together to address these issues.
India emphasised its commitment to a transparent, rules-based, open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the centre. Furthermore, India invited SCO member states to join the ‘Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’. As part of its engagement, India is set to hold a Joint Urban Earthquake Search and Rescue exercise involving SCO member states along with an SCO Expert level meeting on disaster prevention.
Security cooperation also featured prominently during the meeting, with all members highlighting the importance of joint military exercises, like ‘CENTER 2019’. Lastly, it was announced that India would be hosting the next CHG meeting in 2020.
| Common Challenges | India’s Initiatives | Security Cooperation |
|---|---|---|
| Terrorism, Climate Change, Poverty, Inequality | Transparency in Multilateral Trading, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure | Emphasis on Joint Military Exercises |
Highlights from the Bilateral India-Uzbekistan Talks
The defence minister of India also held meetings with his Uzbek counterpart during his visit. Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in an effort to boost cooperation between the two nations in the fields of military medicine and military education.
India also pledged to help set up a state-of-the-art Information Technology (IT) complex at the Armed Forces Academy of Uzbekistan to benefit soldiers. The Defence Ministers of both nations presided over the inauguration of the first India-Uzbekistan joint exercise, “Dustlik 2019”. This exercise was held from 4th-13th November, 2019 at Chirchiq Training Area near Tashkent, focusing on counter-terrorism tactics.
India-Uzbekistan Relations
India and Uzbekistan have signed multiple agreements and MoUs across a range of sectors including trade, investment, education, civil aviation, tourism, science & technology, and agriculture. Bilateral relations between the two countries are managed through an Intergovernmental Commission, which oversees trade and economic ties.
Cultural affinity is another strong bond uniting the two nations. Indian cinema and music enjoy immense popularity in Uzbekistan, with the joint production of films like ‘Hoichoi Unlimited’ being particularly well-received. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture in Uzbekistan offers language classes in Hindi, teaches Yoga, conducts Kathak dance lessons, and hosts diverse cultural performances that bring the vibrant culture of India to Uzbekistan.
Last Modified: February 6, 2024