Counterterrorism, trade, inclusive connectivity top India's SCO agenda

India's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has picked up momentum with the central government hosting several events in January to give shape to both hard and soft power agenda with an eye to balance China's inroads across Eurasia.

Countering terrorism, widening inclusive connectivity initiatives in Eurasia, stabilising Afghanistan and pushing trade in Central Asia-Eurasia top India's agenda, according to persons familiar with the matter. In this backdrop, four senior officials' meetings, national coordinators' meeting and SCO Film Festival are scheduled to take place this month. Senior officials and national coordinators have met in Varanasi, which has been designated as the first-ever tourist and cultural capital of SCO for 2022-23.

At the forthcoming Surajkund mela, SCO is a partner organisation. India is also hosting foreign and defence ministers' meetings, besides national security adviser level meetings of the grouping, with the summit planned here in the middle of this year ahead of G20 Summit. SCO is a key platform for India's outreach to Central Asia. India is keen that SCO contributes to counter growing radical views and extremism in Eurasia, including Central Asia, which has direct bearing on the country's strategic interests as a Eurasian power. Besides, there has been considerable focus on optimum use of Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as viable and inclusive connectivity initiatives parallel to China's Belt and Road Initiative in the region. India wants to connect Chabahar Port with the INSTC, which has over the past one year pushed Indo-Russian trade to an unprecedented level.