NEW DELHI, May 30 – India will be hosting a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in July, according to an announcement made by the external affairs ministry on Tuesday. The summit will include the participation of heads of state from all eight member countries, including Russia, China, and Pakistan.
Earlier this year, the defence and foreign ministers of the SCO attended in-person meetings held in India. Notably, China’s defence minister visited India in April for the SCO’s defence ministers’ meeting, marking the first visit by a Chinese defence minister to India since the Himalayan border clash between the two countries’ troops in May 2020.
In a separate development, Pakistan’s foreign minister visited India earlier this month; however, the talks between the two countries did not indicate any significant improvement in their strained relations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional political and security bloc that consists of Russia, China, and several Central Asian countries. India has held the chairmanship of the SCO since September.
The upcoming virtual summit provides an important platform for member countries to discuss key regional and international issues, enhance cooperation, and strengthen mutual understanding. It serves as an opportunity for leaders to address shared challenges and promote peace, stability, and economic development in the region.
 in July, according to an announcement made by the external affairs ministry on Tuesday.){kind=link}