Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that he is looking forward to present India’s vision for global peace and security and will also call for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism during the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave in Qingdao, China.
Singh is visiting the port city of Qingdao in eastern Shandong province to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting from June 25–26, where extensive deliberations are expected on the evolving regional security architecture.
Rajnath Singh said on X: “Today, June 25, I shall be leaving for Qingdao, China, to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. I will have the opportunity to interact with various Defence Ministers on a wide range of issues. Looking forward to presenting India’s vision for global peace and security, and also, calling for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism.”
Singh’s visit comes just over a month after Operation Sindoor, under which India conducted targeted airstrikes on nine high-value terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.
This marks the first visit to China by an Indian Union Minister since bilateral relations were severely strained by the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh beginning in May 2020.
Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also in China for a meeting of SCO national security advisors.
According to an official readout, Defence Minister Singh will reaffirm India’s commitment to the SCO’s core principles and objectives, while outlining New Delhi’s vision for enhanced regional cooperation to counter terrorism and extremism.
In addition to addressing the plenary session, Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from several participating nations, including China and Russia.
The Ministry of Defence said: “India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting multilateralism, and fostering political, security, economic, and people-to-people interactions in the region. The SCO adheres to principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding, and equality among member states.”
China is hosting the conclave as the current chair of the SCO.
(With inputs from IANS)
