RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.488
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2017
SCO MEMBERSHIP TO INDIA
488. SHRI T. G. VENKATESH:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Prime Minister has attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit recently held in Kazakhstan.
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of discussions held with regard to bilateral relations, and curbing terrorism, etc,; and
(d) whether the matter of according SCO membership to India has also come for discussion and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) Yes.
(b) & (c) India has joined the SCO to secure peace, progress and prosperity for the region as also to create new opportunities for economic engagement. SCO comprising of two regional bodies – SCO Secretariat and SCO-RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure).
SCO-RATS deals with counter terrorism and promotes interaction among the security agencies of the region. All the Member States work towards combating terrorism by eliminating infrastructure and ending the support structure financing terrorism.
(d) India was admitted as a Full Member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on 9th July 2017 during SCO Heads of state Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
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