Modi urges full transit rights within SCO countries; meets Putin, Erdogan on sidelines of summit
Samarkand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 16 urged full right to transit within the SCO member countries on a day he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the grouping’s Summit in this historic Uzbekistan city.
“The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine caused many obstacles in global supply chains, due to which the whole world is facing an unprecedented energy and food crisis. SCO must make efforts to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region.
This will require better connectivity, as well as it will be important that we all give each other full right to transit,” Modi said while addressing the Summit in Hindi.
He said the SCO’s role was very important as its constituents account for about 30 per cent of global GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population.
Pointing out that India’s economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, the highest among the world’s largest economies, he said a lot of focus is also being given on the proper use of technology in the country’s people-centric development model.
Noting that there are more than 70,000 start-ups in India, of which more than 100 are unicorns, he said the country is supporting innovation in every sector.
“Our experience can also be useful for many other SCO members. For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with SCO member countries by establishing a new Special Working Group on Start-ups and Innovation,” Modi said.
He asserted that India is today one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be WHO’s first and only global centre for traditional medicine.
“We must increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take the initiative for a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine,” he added.
During his meeting with Putin, Modi said: “Today’s era isn’t of war and I’ve spoken to you about it on the call. Today we’ll get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia have stayed together for several decades.”
Putin also extended his best wishes to Modi ahead of his birthday on Saturday.
After his meeting with Erdogan, Modi tweeted: “Met President @RTErdoganAand reviewed the full range of bilateral relations between India and Turkey including ways to deepen economic linkages for the benefit of our people”.
