Modi, Jinping on a platform today amid border tensions, Shanghai Co-operation Organization meeting

- Imran Khan will also be present

New Delhi on Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping will be seen on the same stage at an international meeting today as tensions between India and China have been simmering for some time near the Line of Control in eastern Ladakh. The event will also be attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan.

The leaders will attend a meeting of the national heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) by video conference. Today's meeting is to be chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin. As the Corona era continues, this virtual level meeting will discuss current issues and SCO policies until 2025.

This is the twentieth meeting of its kind in which the member countries take measures for security of their respective territories, counter-terrorism measures. They will exchange views on enhancing mutual cooperation in economic situation, human cooperation and other important areas.

The situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East was likely to be emphasized. Member countries will focus on enhancing cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and tourism. The year 2021 was also likely to be declared a cultural year.

India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are members of the SCO, while Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia are observers.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey are members as dialogue partners. On Monday evening, Pakistan announced that our Prime Minister Imran Khan would also attend the 20th meeting of the SCO.