New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday expressed concern about states that leverage terrorism as an instrument of state policy and called upon Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to enforce internationally recognised legal statutes to comprehensively eradicate safe havens, infrastructure and financial networks supporting terrorism.
Virtually addressing the 19th session of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, hosted by India, Mr Naidu said India condemns terrorism in all its manifestations.
"We remain concerned about threats emerging from ungoverned spaces and are particularly concerned about states that leverage terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Such an approach is entirely against the spirit and ideals and the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation," he pointed out.
Stressing that peace was an essential prerequisite for progress, he told the dignitaries participating in the meeting that the most important challenge faced by the region was terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism.
"Terrorism is truly the enemy of humanity. It is a scourge we need to collectively combat," he added.
"Elimination of this threat will help us realise our shared potential and create conditions for stable and secure economic growth and sustainable development," he added.
Observing that the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down the economic trajectory of all member states, Mr Naidu said India has fought it bravely and has shown remarkable resilience in fighting the virus as well as in ensuring economic stability, adding that a people-driven approach has enabled India to keep its Covid-19 death rate at one of the lowest levels in the world.
Pointing out that more than 60 per cent of the vaccines for global immunisation programmes are being manufactured in India, he said "Thanks to its world-class pharmaceutical industry, India has demonstrated itself as a ‘pharmacy to the world’ during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic."
Even when the whole country was under lockdown, India supplied medicines and equipment to more than 150 countries, including to the SCO member states, he noted.
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