Rajnath calls upon SCO to strengthen existing international laws to combat terrorism

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on November 2, 2019, called upon the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to strengthen and implement all existing international laws and mechanisms without exceptions or double standards to combat terrorism and its enablers. He was addressing the 18^th meeting of Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of SCO at Tashkent in Uzbekistan as the Special Envoy of PM Narendra Modi.

“Terrorism continues to disrupt our societies and undermine our developmental endeavours. It is important for SCO countries to come together to deal with this menace,” said Rajnath. He congratulated Russia for successfully holding the SCO joint military exercise ‘CENTER 2019’ in Orenburg aimed at evolving drills of the participating armies in the fight against international terrorism.

Rajnath stressed that the process of globalisation has opened up immense opportunities for the growth of SCO members but also brought to the fore multi-dimensional, complex and trans-national threats affecting developing countries. He urged the SCO to work together for defeating challenges like terrorism, climate change, endemic poverty, under development, pandemics and inequality.

He also voiced the Government’s resolve of providing an enabling economic ecosystem for partner countries to invest and do business in India. He referred to various initiatives taken by the Government in this regard including relaxing FDI reforms, allowing 100 per cent foreign investment in coal mining and contract manufacturing, easing sourcing norms for single-brand retailers, and approving 26 per cent overseas investment in digital media.

Highlighting the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme, Rajnath invited SCO countries to enter into collaborative joint ventures in India saying that significant work has already been undertaken towards improving ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the country. “We strongly support the initiative to facilitate cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises within the SCO. Food industry is another potential area of collaboration. SCO members can work together for technology and investment support to food processing and put in a supporting logistics chain,” he said.

Rajnath also said India is ready to share its experience and expertise in skill development and capacity building in areas such as telemedicine, medical tourism, resource mapping, launching of satellites, agricultural education, and effective and affordable pharmaceuticals. Finance, hospitality and tourism services also present significant opportunities, he said, according to a PIB release.

Emphasising that ‘unilateralism and protectionism has done good to none, Rajnath reiterated the Government’s commitment to a transparent, rules-based, open, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its centre.

Rajnath also invited SCO Member states to join the ‘Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’. India has taken the initiative of launching the coalition to assist countries in upgrading their capacities for developing resilient infrastructure. It will address the loss reduction targets under the Sendai Framework, besides contributing to climate change adaptation. “India would be holding Joint Urban Earthquake Search and Rescue exercise of SCO member States along with SCO Expert level meeting on disaster prevention later this week,” he added.

Raksha Mantri also said, India is honoured to host the next meeting of Council of Heads of Government in 2020. Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, Prime Ministers and Heads of Delegation of SCO Member States, Secretary-General of SCO Vladimir Norovand, Executive Director of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Jumakhon Giyosov also participated at the meeting.