Rajnath Singh holds talks with Chinese, Russian counterparts on sidelines of SCO meet in Bishkek

Bishkek [Krygyzstan]: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held talks with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Bishkek. He also met Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov as part of a series of engagements with regional leaders focused on security and stability.

Singh arrived in Bishkek on Monday to attend the SCO meeting, where defence ministers from member states are expected to deliberate on international peace and security, counter-terrorism cooperation and greater defence coordination within the bloc. He began his official engagements by laying a wreath at Victory Square in tribute to fallen soldiers.

According to the Defence Ministry, this year’s meeting is being held against the backdrop of the conflict in West Asia, which is expected to be a key focus of discussions. The SCO is also likely to explore ways to mitigate the impact of the hostilities on regional stability.

The SCO is an intern-governmental organisation established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, China. Its membership includes India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating chairmanship in 2023.

(DD News)