PM Modi Arrives In China For SCO Summit

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China on Saturday on a two-day visit primarily to attend the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)  which will be focused on several pressing global issues including future of Iran nuclear deal, the impact of US sanctions on Russia and situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is for the first time the Indian prime minister will be participating in the SCO summit following India and Pakistan becoming  full-fledged members of the grouping last year. The SCO was founded in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.  There is no indication whether he will meet his Pakistan’s counterpart Mamnoon Hussain on the sidelines of the summit. Among others he is likely to interact with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. PM Modi shares excellent chemistry with Xi and Putin although Modi will have no discussion with Xi on multi-billion USD China-Pakistan Economic Corridor being constructed through Pakistan Occupies Kashmir. India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had visited China in April and made India’s stand clear on Indo-China issue. Before the SCO PM Modi came down to the Chinese city of Wuhan on April 27 and 28 to for an informal summit with President Xi Jinping. Exploration ways to deepen cooperation among the SCO member countries in tackling of terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation as well as increasing volume of trade and commerce are also on the agenda of the summit. The SCO with eight member countries representing about 42 per cent of the world’s population and 20 per cent of the global GDP and three nucleated power nation   is seen by some observes as a challenge to the NATO.Another important participant being held in the picturesque coastal city of China’s Shandong province is Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.PM Modi ess at the SCO Modi, is likely to convince the participants about the necessity for boosting trade and investment in the region.The Summit’s timing  is also significant as it is being held following brawl between Beijing  and Washington over tariffs disputes  and POTUS Donald  Trump  has walked  out from the Iran nuclear deal defying  international  opinion and ties between United States and Russia are worsening  on some issues. The summit is also likely to focus on importance of regional connectivity projects to boost trade among members of the SCO countries.