New Delhi: The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday officially confirmed that Foreign Minister Qin Gang will be visiting India to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO) Foreign Ministers' meeting, which is scheduled for May 4 and 5 in Goa. At the meeting, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will exchange views with other SCO member states’ Foreign Ministers on the international and regional situation and SCO cooperation in various fields, among other topics.
After visiting India, the State Councillor and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit Myanmar and the visit is aimed at furthering follow through on the outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Myanmar in January 2020, deepening practical cooperation in such fields as economy and livelihood, and support Myanmar’s efforts to maintain stability, revitalise the economy, improve people’s lives and realise sustainable development.
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As the President of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India, has sent invitations to all members, including Pakistan and China for the upcoming Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa scheduled for May 4 and 5. This will be the new Chinese FM's second visit to India this year. He was in India earlier this year to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry last month announced that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto will attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa this week. Notably, Bhutto's visit to India will be the first by any Pakistani leader since former Pakistan FM Nawaz Sharif in 2014.
Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch said, "Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be leading the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) being held on May 4-5 in Goa. "Our participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan's commitment to the SCO Charter and processes and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities," Baloch said during a press briefing. The SCO meeting to be hosted by India will play a significant role as it will bring together major powers under one platform to deliberate upon global issues of mutual interest.
However, the relations between India and Pakistan have been at their low since the terror attack in Uri of Pulwama. The abrogation of Article 370, has made the relations even worst. Meanwhile, speculations are rife regarding the resumption of dialogue between the two countries. EAM Jaishankar, last week said that it is difficult for India to resume dialogue with Pakistan as it continued to practice cross-border terrorism.
"It is for us very difficult to engage with a neighbour, which practices cross-border terrorism against us. We have always said that they have to deliver on the commitment not to encourage, sponsor, and carry out cross-border terrorism. We continue to hope that one day we would reach that stage", EAM Jaishankar said in Panama while delivering the joint press statement.
At the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting, the delegates from SCO member states will share information relating to the large-scale emergencies which occurred in their respective territories and the measures taken to handle them. The participants will also discuss and approve the action plan for the implementation of the agreement between the SCO member states on cooperation in assisting in the elimination of emergencies in 2023-2025.
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India took over the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation at the SCO summit held in Samarkand Uzbekistan in 2022. India hosted the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting on April 28 this year. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met China’s State Councillor and Minister of National Defence Gen Li Shangfu ahead of SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi
The two ministers had frank discussions about the developments in India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations. The Defence Minister categorically conveyed that the development of relations between India and China is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders.
He added that all issues at the LAC need to be resolved by existing bilateral agreements and commitments. The Chinese Defence Minister was in Delhi last month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting on April 28. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
