External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaking at the SCO summit in Islamabad.
Islamabad: In the Shanghai Summit Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference, while Pakistan once again recommended China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) project as excellent, India, as always, strongly opposed it. India refused to support China’s ambitious ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) initiative. With this, India has become the only country in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which has not supported this controversial connectivity project.
Let us tell you that the OBOR project includes the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through the Pakistan-occupied part of Kashmir. A joint communiqué issued at the end of the SCO Council of Heads of Government summit hosted by Islamabad said Russia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the Chinese connectivity initiative. It said the countries took note of the ongoing work on the implementation of the project, including efforts to link the Eurasian Economic Union to OBOR. India has also refused to support OBOR in previous SCO summits.
BRI name changed to OBOR
China has changed the name of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to OBOR. However, India has already been strongly critical of it, as the project involves the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through the Pakistan-occupied part of Kashmir. Global criticism against OBOR is increasing, as many countries are burdened with debt while implementing projects related to the initiative. In his address at the SCO summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said “debt is a matter of serious concern” but did not give further details. “Collaborative engagement can create new capabilities,” he said.
What did Pakistan-China say in the joint release?
The joint communique said the heads of delegations took note of the proposal to create a ‘Greater Eurasian Partnership’ with the participation of the SCO, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as other interested nations and multilateral associations. It said, “The heads of delegations reaffirmed their desire to ensure stable economic and social development in the SCO region, adopting the SCO Economic Development Strategy for the period up to 2030 and the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation of SCO Member States.” Noted the importance of implementation.” “They stressed the need for coordinated efforts through relevant cooperation mechanisms to implement the respective action plans,” it said. The SCO summit was chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. India’s Foreign Minister S.
Apart from Jaishankar, Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov, Kyrgyz Cabinet Chief Akilbek Japarov, Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdin Lovsannamsarai, Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman Rashid Meredov and Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov are participating in the conference. (Language)
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