Rajnath Singh to visit Dushanbe for SCO government...

Summary

• India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, is due in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting on October 19 and 20.
• The defence ministry said Singh will stand in for India at the 25th round of talks of the Council of Heads of Government.
• Rajnath Singh will join delegations from the member states in Dushanbe, where Pakistan, as a permanent member, also has a seat.

AI Generated Summary

India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, is due in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting on October 19 and 20.

The defence ministry said Singh will stand in for India at the 25th round of talks of the Council of Heads of Government. Heads of government and other senior figures from member states sit on the council.

The ministry said the gathering will focus on deeper cooperation among members across trade, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

Rajnath Singh and the SCO agenda

The agenda is broad. It covers trade and culture alike. Delegates plan to review how existing joint projects are going. They will also take decisions on how the bloc runs its finances and institutions.

Reports added that talks also touch transport, industry, the digital economy and financial ties. Social and cultural links appear on the list too. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take part virtually, which shows the weight New Delhi gives the meeting.