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Key Points

Rajnath Singh held key bilateral meetings with Belarus, Russia, and China during the SCO summit in Qingdao. Discussions centered on regional security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation. India reaffirmed its commitment to SCO’s principles of sovereignty and mutual respect. The summit also saw participation from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Key Points: Rajnath Singh Meets Belarus Russia China at SCO Summit Qingdao

  • Rajnath Singh meets Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin
  • Bilateral talks with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov
  • SCO focuses on counter-terrorism and regional security
  • India stresses multilateral cooperation under SCO principles
2 min read

Rajnath Singh meets Belarusian counterpart on sidelines of SCO summit in Qingdao, China

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds bilateral talks with Belarus, Russia, and China at SCO summit, emphasizing counter-terrorism and regional security.

"SCO pursues its policy based on principles of sovereignty and mutual respect among member states – Indian Defence Ministry"

Qingdao, June 26

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Belarusian counterpart Lieutenant General Viktor Gennadievich Khrenin on Thursday on the sidelines of the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Meeting in Qingdao, China.

Singh also held a bilateral meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of the meeting of the members of the 10-member bloc.

In continuation of these engagements, the Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation visited the Qingdao International Conference Centre, the venue where the SCO Summit meeting was held in 2018.

The SCO Defence Ministers' meeting being held from June 25 to 26 brings together member states to discuss key regional and global security issues.

As part of the broader agenda, the discussions are expected to focus on international and regional peace and security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and enhanced collaboration among the defence ministries of SCO member states.

Upon his arrival at the venue, Singh was received by Chinese Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun.Singh joined Admiral Dong and other participating leaders for a group photograph ahead of the official proceedings.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif arrived at the venue after Rajnath Singh.

In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, "Defence Ministry is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace & security, call for joint & consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism & extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting."

India, the Ministry noted, places special importance on the SCO as a platform for promoting multilateralism and cooperation across politics, security, economy, and people-to-people ties in the region.

"SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states," the Defence Ministry statement read.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating chairmanship in 2023. Member countries include India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Good to see India actively participating in SCO discussions. Our defense minister's engagements with both allies like Russia and neighbors like China show balanced diplomacy. Hope these talks lead to concrete actions against terrorism from Pakistan. 🇮🇳
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Amit S.
Interesting that the meeting is in China while we have border tensions with them. Hope Rajnath Singh ji raises the LAC issue firmly but diplomatically. SCO is important but national security comes first!
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Rahul M.
Belarus is an unexpected partner here. Smart move to expand our defense ties beyond traditional allies. More strategic options mean better bargaining power on global stage. 👏
S
Sunita P.
While SCO is important, I worry about China's growing influence in the organization. They're hosting, they're chairing next year...are we playing into their hands? Need to be careful about this "Shanghai Spirit" business.
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Vikram D.
The group photo with Pak defense minister present must have been awkward! But shows India's maturity in dealing with difficult neighbors. Hope our message on terrorism was loud and clear.
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Neha R.
More connectivity and trade within SCO is good, but only if it benefits India equally. We've seen how China's BRI projects create debt traps. Our leaders should negotiate smartly to protect Indian interests.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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