The Prime Ministers of Russia, China, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be attending a Shanghai Cooperation
Organization meet hosted by India on Monday, where Pakistan is to be represented
by its parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, news agency PTI quoted the
Ministry of External Affairs as saying.

This would be India’s first summit after getting a complete membership
of the group in 2017.

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According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Vice President
Venkaiah Naidu is set to chair the 19th meet of the SCO Council of
Heads of Government. The meet is held annually between the members for trade
and economic advancement.

“The
prime ministers from the SCO member states of Russia, China, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will attend the SCO meeting on November
30. Pakistan will be represented by the parliamentary secretary for foreign
affairs,” the MEA said in a statement.

Apart
from the member states, four observer states – namely, Afghanistan, Belarus,
Iran and Mongolia will also be participating in the summit.

Turkmenistan
has been invited as a special guest.

MEA
stressed on the fact that India wants to increase strategic importance and
develop relationships in sectors such as trade, economy as well as developing
the cultural bond inside the group.

“By
chairing the 19th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government on 30
November, India hopes to further strengthen greater trade, economic and
cultural cooperation within SCO by putting human beings at the centre of SCO
activities and to foster greater peace and prosperity in the region.

We hope that India’s initiatives will not only be helpful for
the SCO Member States in overcoming the economic challenges posed by the
COVID-19 pandemic but will also signal our continued commitment to
strengthening the organisation,” the ministry further said.