SCO must support the member countries candidatures for the non-permanent membership of UNSC : Swaraj

In spite of a turbulent global scenario, SCO Member States have been steadily expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres, including political, security and development.India is committed to continue working for a favorable environment for SCO member countries’ economic activities and to intensify work on the relevant SCO documents dealing with economic and trade cooperation.India subscribes to a rule based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system, centered around the World Trade Organization, and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism.Science and technology led innovation and the digital economy are the key areas, which could play an important role in the long-term inclusive and sustainable growth. India has adopted a multi pronged welfare approach, which includes: (i) development of human resources; (ii) promoting R&D and Innovation; (iii) enhancing efficiency through digital services; and (iv) ensuring a secure cyber space. It is my firm belief that people to people contacts play a major role in strengthening the relations between nations. Tourism is one such catalyst.We can actively cooperate to promote it. We are sincerely committed to the implementation of the SCO Joint Action Plan for the development of cooperation in the field of tourism for 2019-2020.I am happy to announce that our Ministry of Tourism website would have a Russian interface by the end of next month and a 24×7 tourist helpline in Russian language for the ease of tourists from SCO countries. Our e-tourist visa services are available for most of the SCO countries. India’s commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in the: (i) International North-South Transport Corridor; (ii) Chabahar Port; (iii) Ashgabat Agreement; and (iv) India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway;   We have also operationalized air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017. We welcome regional connectivity initiatives, that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. India firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It is imperative to have comprehensive reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council to make it more representative and effective.SCO must support the member countries’ candidatures for the non-permanent membership of UNSC for the years 2021-2022 and 2027-2028.India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at COP 24 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).I am pleased that an SCO Action Plan for environment protection for 2019-2021 has been finalised. We look forward to continue our participation with keen interest in this area. In spite of a turbulent global scenario, SCO Member States have been steadily expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres, including political, security and development.India is committed to continue working for a favorable environment for SCO member countries’ economic activities and to intensify work on the relevant SCO documents dealing with economic and trade cooperation.India subscribes to a rule based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system, centered around the World Trade Organization, and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism. Science and technology led innovation and the digital economy are the key areas, which could play an important role in the long-term inclusive and sustainable growth.It is my firm belief that people to people contacts play a major role in strengthening the relations between nations. Tourism is one such catalyst.We can actively cooperate to promote it. We are sincerely committed to the implementation of the SCO Joint Action Plan forthe development of cooperation in the field of tourism for 2019-2020. I am happy to announce that our Ministry of Tourism website would have a Russian interface by the end of next month and a 24×7 tourist helpline in Russian language for the ease of tourists from SCO countries. Our e-tourist visa services are available for most of the SCO countries.We have also operationalized air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017. We welcome regional connectivity initiatives, that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.India firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It is imperative to have comprehensive reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council to make it more representative and effective. Excerpts of speech by External Affairs Minister at the Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers