00:00The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, has 10 members.
00:04China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Iran, Belarus, plus Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
00:13It's the world's largest regional organization by geographic size and people,
00:19bringing together more than 40% of the world's population.
00:23In 2023, SCO countries had a combined GDP of $24.4 trillion, nearly a quarter of the global economy.
00:34Established in 2001 by China, Russia and former Soviet states,
00:38the SCO aims to promote regional security, combat separatism and boost trade and investment by encouraging economic cooperation.
00:46Our ambassador, Bolad Nurgaliev, is a former secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
00:54This is an annual event prior to the summit.
01:00And usually the foreign ministers meet in order to discuss the list of the questions to be included into the agenda,
01:10check on the degree of preparedness of the documents for signing and exchange their own views on the topical issues
01:20so that, in a way, it's a dress rehearsal for the summit.
01:26That is what is going to happen tomorrow.
01:29That's my expectation.
01:31Besides that, the ministers will offer their take of the most pressing issues.
01:37How are you seeing the relationship between China and India evolving?
01:42And how far do you think SCO provides a platform for that relationship developing?
01:48The way I understand, India and China are enjoying relations, maintaining relations for the last two millennia.
01:58That's why these are two great civilizations and the scope of relations are, well, comprehensive, covering everything.
02:13And when India joined the SCO, changing status from the observer state to that of the full-fledged member,
02:23it was a recognition by New Delhi of the growing importance of cooperation within the SCO.
02:32So I understand the background for your question.
02:38I believe we have learned how to separate the issues, some maybe certain problems in the bilateral relations,
02:45from the broader agenda of the whole organization.
02:50And that's why my expectation would be that both China and India would be working hand-in-hand
03:00for the promotion of cooperation within the organization.
03:09There will be no doubt about the support that New Delhi provides for the championship of China,
03:22which is currently chairing the SCO.
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