World News | India again no longer supports China’s “Belt and Road” initiative: SCO joint statement

New Delhi [India]On July 5, India once again chose not to support China’s Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the only country in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to refuse to support the project.

Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the New Delhi Declaration issued after the India-hosted summit on Tuesday.

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Earlier in the day, the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which India chaired, concluded. Prime Minister Modi and other SCO heads of state participated in the event virtually.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA), the Delhi Declaration states, “Reaffirming support for China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and the The work of this project includes efforts to connect the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union with the construction of the “Belt and Road Initiative.”

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“They were in favor of implementing a roadmap to gradually increase the share of national currencies in mutual settlements of interested member states,” the statement added.

India also earlier refused to support Xi Jinping’s flagship trade and connectivity plan. At the previous meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, India has not changed its position on the “Belt and Road” and has become a country that does not support the “Belt and Road”.

The New Delhi Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization stated that “the member states are willing to expand and deepen cooperation to promote sustainable economic and social development and improve the well-being and living standards of the people in the SCO region,” adding that “member states believe it is important to ensure the implementation The SCO 2030 Economic Development Strategy adopted by interested member states and other joint programs and projects aimed at promoting cooperation in priority areas.”

Meanwhile, Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s stance on strengthening the “Belt and Road” initiative in a virtual speech at Tuesday’s meeting of heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and integrated “high-quality Belt and Road cooperation” with the countries’ development strategies, according to Xinhua, the official news agency. Integrate with regional cooperation initiatives.

In his speech at the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, Xi Jinping stated that it is necessary to further promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, accelerate the construction of port infrastructure and regional international logistics corridors, and ensure a stable and smooth chain of regional industrial supply.”

Xinhua quoted Xi as saying: “Ten years ago, I proposed the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of ‘Belt and Road’, China will host the third ‘Belt and Road’ International Cooperation Summit Forum.”

However, India said that while connectivity is important, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected.

“In his speech, the Prime Minister made it clear that connectivity is important for SCO member states. But connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. India’s position on ‘Belt and Road’ is clear,” said Foreign Minister Vinay Kwatra stated at the briefing. Foreign Office on Tuesday.

The summit, chaired by Modi, was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistani Prime Minister Sheikh Baz Sharif and other leaders of the group.

India’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has seen intense activities and mutually beneficial cooperation among member states. India hosted a total of 134 meetings and events, including 14 ministerial meetings. India remains committed to playing an active and constructive role in the organization and looks forward to a successful SCO summit as the culmination of its presidency.

India will hold the rotating presidency until September 2023. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a syndicated news feed, the latest staff may not have modified or edited the body of content)