PM Modi at 25th SCO Summit 2025: Security, Connectivity, Opportunity
PM Modi addressed the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin, stressing India's vision of Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity, and calling for united action on terrorism.
Tianjin, September 1, 2025 - Prime Minister of India participated in the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, expressing gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for the warm hospitality and extending greetings to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on their national days.
In his keynote, the Prime Minister highlighted the three pillars of India's approach to the SCO:
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Security (S): He stressed that peace, security, and stability are the foundations of development. Terrorism, separatism, and extremism remain grave challenges. India reaffirmed its commitment to joint efforts under the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), including initiatives against Al-Qaeda and radicalisation. He condemned terror financing and urged member states to reject double standards in dealing with terrorism. Referring to recent attacks in Pahalgam, he underlined that terrorism is a threat to all humanity, not just individual nations.
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Connectivity (C): The Prime Minister stated that strong connectivity fosters not only trade but also trust and development. India's initiatives like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) were cited as key enablers of greater engagement with Afghanistan and Central Asia. He firmly reiterated that connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that projects bypassing sovereignty lose meaning and trust.
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Opportunity (O): India advocates greater cooperation and reform within the SCO. Recalling India's presidency in 2023, he mentioned initiatives on start-ups, innovation, traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and shared Buddhist heritage. He proposed creating a Civilizational Dialogue Forum under the SCO to showcase art, literature, and cultural traditions on a global stage.
The Prime Minister emphasized India's domestic vision of "Reform, Perform, and Transform", noting how India has turned crises like COVID-19 and global economic instability into opportunities for reforms and growth. He invited SCO nations to join India's development journey.
Welcoming SCO's evolving role, he appreciated the establishment of new centers to tackle organized crime, drug trafficking, and cyber security. He also called for reforms in global institutions like the United Nations, stressing that the aspirations of the Global South cannot be confined within outdated frameworks. Using a vivid metaphor, he said: "We cannot show the multicolored dreams of a new generation on a black-and-white screen. The screen must change."
Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister extended best wishes to Kyrgyzstan's President Japarov as the next SCO Chair, reaffirming India's commitment to multilateralism and an inclusive world order.
