A major diplomatic meeting was held during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent trip to Beijing, where he met with Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to talk about the modernization initiatives and changing role of the powerful Eurasian bloc.
India’s commitment to enhancing multilateral cooperation within the framework of the SCO was emphasized during the July 14, 2025, summit, which also highlighted the organization’s continued efforts to adapt to modern challenges.
Jaishankar and Yermekbayev discussed the significance of the SCO as a 10-member intergovernmental organization and its role in maintaining regional stability. The discussions centered on the necessity of updating the organization’s operational procedures to guarantee its continuous applicability in tackling security, economic, and developmental issues throughout Eurasia.
Both leaders recognized the SCO’s growing agenda, which now include projects related to the digital economy, poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and improved member state connections.
Following a period of tense ties following the 2020 conflict in the Galwan Valley, India and China are currently experiencing a resurgence of diplomatic momentum as a result of Jaishankar’s visit. His visit is noteworthy since it marks the first time an Indian External Affairs Minister has visited Beijing in five years, indicating a cautious but promising direction for the two countries’ relationship.
These modernization efforts are anticipated to be furthered at the 25th Heads of State Council meeting in Tianjin later this year, with China stressing a “friendly, united, and fruitful” summit.
High-level Indian participation in recent SCO meetings, including those attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, preceded Jaishankar’s visit. Notably, India objected to the joint statement’s exclusion of mentions of the Pahalgam terror assault, which claimed 26 lives, and declined to endorse it during the June 2025 SCO Defence Ministers’ conference.
India pushed for strong wording denouncing terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, but another member, often thought to be Pakistan, objected. The SCO’s ongoing problems with counterterrorism cooperation were brought to light by this debate, which delayed the adoption of a consensus document.
India’s concerns about terrorism and its larger regional goals influence its participation in the SCO. India has frequently urged for a united and unwavering stance against terrorism, encouraging member states to reject double standards and hold supporters accountable. The organization functions by consensus. Even as the SCO looks to modernize and broaden its impact, greater counterterrorism cooperation inside the organization is still hampered by the ongoing India-Pakistan standoff.
The conversations between Jaishankar and Secretary General Yermekbayev demonstrate India’s proactive involvement in determining the future course of the SCO. The organization’s efficacy as a regional platform will be determined by its emphasis on modernization, security cooperation, and consensus-building as it gets ready for its historic summit in Tianjin. The results of these initiatives will have an effect on the internal dynamics of the SCO as well as the larger geopolitical environment of Eurasia.
