SCO Summit 2022: It’s not an era of war, PM Modi tells Russian President Vladimir Putin

Source : The Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2022: Amid the ongoing warfare between Russia and Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that it is not an era of war, news agency PTI reported. It is the first meeting between the two leaders since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February this year. Though India has not yet criticised Russia for its Ukraine invasion, it has been advocating for resolution of the crisis through dialogue. It is learnt that the two leaders, who held talks on the sidelines of the annual summit, discussed bilateral, regional and global issues.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan on Friday handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India. Taking to Twitter, Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov wrote: “As a result #SCOSamarkandSummit, India will host next SCO summit as a chairman of Organisation in 2023. We will do our best to assist India, our strategic partner, in the implementation of this responsible mission.”

Speaking at the SCO summit Friday, Modi said Indian economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year and thus will be the highest among the largest economies in the world. In his address in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, the prime minister also said India is progressing towards becoming a manufacturing hub. The second day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit kicked off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance, among others.

The summit is set to deliberate on regional security challenges, boosting trade and energy supplies among other issues. PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including with Putin, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev among other leaders.