EAM S Jaishankar attends SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting

Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is currently attending the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) in Moscow, Russia.

All the heads of the eight-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization are present at the meeting. This is the third Council of Foreign Ministers meeting that India will be attending as a full member of SCO. While the first meeting was in Beijing in April 2018, the second was in Bishkek in May 2019. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar poses for a group picture with Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries in Moscow, Russia. pic.twitter.com/orscZBNXAb

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2020

The Indian External Affairs Minister landed in Moscow on September 8 for a four-day visit to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meet. He was received by Ambassador and senior officers from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

EAM Shri @DrSJaishankar landed in Moscow ; received by Ambassador and senior officers from Russian Foreign Ministry. @PMOIndia @mfa_russia @DDNewslive @PIB_India @PBNS_India @RusEmbIndia @MID_RF @KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/DjoiVHefjF

— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) September 8, 2020

The Indian External Affairs Minister's visit to Russia comes days after Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Moscow to attend the meeting of the SCO Defence Ministers.

Key Highlights

• The SCO Foreign Minister's meeting will review the preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit and exchange views on international and regional issues in the context of the 75th UN anniversary.

• The discussions will be centered around a number of urgent foreign policy issues as well as decisions aimed at further developing SCO activities on overcoming the global political and socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

#WATCH: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting underway in Moscow, Russia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar present. pic.twitter.com/FZ5yFFwHPX

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2020

• The External Affairs Minister’s visit in Moscow includes participation in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting and bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member nations.

EAM's Bilateral Meetings

• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov in Russia on September 10, 2020, ahead of the SCO meet. During the meeting, the two Ministers agreed to coordinate closely on regional concerns and take forward growing development partnership. The EAM appreciated Uzbekistan's vital role in our Central Asian engagement.

Began the day with a cordial meeting with Uzbek FM @a_h_kamilov. Agreed to coordinate closely on regional concerns. Will take forward our growing development partnership. Appreciate Uzbekistan's vital role in our Central Asian engagement. pic.twitter.com/3jjWDX0aUa

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 10, 2020

• Jaishankar also held bilateral talks with the Kazakhstan's FM Mukhtar Tileuberdi before the SCO summit and discussed trade and energy exchanges. Both the Ministers agreed to continue to work closely on peacekeeping and cooperate on regional peace and security.

Happy to meet my Kazakh counterpart FM Mukhtar Tileuberdi before the SCO summit. Discussed our trade and energy exchanges. Will continue to work closely on peacekeeping. And cooperate on regional peace and security. pic.twitter.com/d1IwrWrczR

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 10, 2020

• Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and conducted talks that reflected India and Russia's Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. The External Affairs Minister stated that he values their exchanges on the international situation.

Pleasure to meet FM Sergey Lavrov, this time in person. Excellent talks that reflect our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Value our exchanges on the international situation. pic.twitter.com/e9ztsiuy8l

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 9, 2020

• EAM Jaishankar also conducted a warm meeting with the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin. The Ministers expressed appreciation for the growing bilateral and regional cooperation between the two nations and placed high value on their strategic partnership.

A warm meeting with Tajik FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin. Pleased with our growing bilateral and regional cooperation. Highly value this strategic partnership. pic.twitter.com/Epyb87Nlah

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 9, 2020

• The EAM also held a fruitful meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Chingiz Aidarbekov on SCO sidelines. Jaishankar thanked him for the support in facilitating return of Indian nationals and discussed issues of bilateral and regional interest. The two Ministers agreed to further enhance the strategic partnership between their countries in all spheres.

A fruitful meeting with FM Chingiz Aidarbekov of Kyrgyz Republic on SCO sidelines. Thanked him for the support in facilitating return of Indian nationals. Discussed issues of bilateral and regional interest. Agreed to further enhance our Strategic Partnership in all spheres. pic.twitter.com/XySOnoZFKS

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 9, 2020

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has a total of eight member nations- Russia, India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and China. Jaishankar notably did not hold any bilateral meetings with his Pakistani and Chinese counterparts. 

EAM meets Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

The Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had made a stopover at Tehran, Iran as a part of his Russia visit and had met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif.

The EAM called the meeting productive and said that the discussions covered areas including strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations and reviewed regional developments. 

A productive meeting with FM @JZarif during a stopover in Tehran. Discussed strengthening our bilateral cooperation and reviewed regional developments. Thank him for his gracious hospitality. pic.twitter.com/Ec9sqO5I6U

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 8, 2020

India's high-level visits to Iran are been considered as a major effort to reach out to a country that it considers as a part of its extended neighbourhood. Iran plays a significant role in India's connectivity project through Chabahar port, which provides India a link to Afghanistan and the wider Central Asian region, bypassing Pakistan.

Background 

India and China are important members of the eight-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization. India has been taking an active part in various SCO dialogue mechanisms under Russia's Chairmanship this year. The SCO Summit 2020 is expected to be held soon. 

India and Russia share an important strategic partnership and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of India -Russia Strategic Partnership.