SCO Summit Live Updates: Iran formally becomes full member of SCO, PM Modi conveys best wishes to President Ebrahim Raisi

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday warned against the external attempts to foment a new "Cold War" in the region and called on the SCO member countries to safeguard regional peace and ensure common security by cracking down on terrorism through joint operations.

He said, "I would like to thank PM Modi for organising this Summit. The implementation of a lot of documents and the decisions that were prepared for this Summit is going to enhance the strategic partnership with India," adding that Russia supports the New Delhi declaration which gives a consolidated approach to international issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined India's contribution to SCO especially in the last six years as a member state during the summit held in virtual format and highlighted the need to work together to eliminate the menace of terrorism in the region and globally.

Iran, one of India's neighbours in its extended neighbourhood, has formally become a full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Tuesday chaired the SCO Summit virtually, said Iran is going to join as new member of the organization and also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Obligation for the SCO membership of Belarus. "I am happy that today Iran is going to join the SCO family as a new member. For this, I convey my best wishes to President Ebrahim Raisi and the people of Iran. Also, we welcome the signing of the memorandum of obligation for Belarus' SCO membership," PM Modi said at the summit.

China's Xi Jinping urged Russian, Iranian and other leaders on Tuesday to work towards safeguarding "regional peace" as he addressed a virtual summit of their Shanghai alliance. Xi "called for efforts to safeguard regional peace and ensure common security", state news agency Xinhua said, adding that he urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to "follow the right direction and enhance their solidarity and mutual trust". Russian President Vladimir Putin also addressed the meeting, his first summit since a short-lived mutiny last month after the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led a failed rebellion against the Kremlin.

Russia will stand up against Western sanctions and 'provocations', President Vladimir Putin told a virtual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday, a group that also includes China and India. Putin said Moscow planned to boost ties with the group and supported the transition to settlements in local currencies in foreign trade. He also warned that the potential for conflicts and the risk of a global economic crisis were on the rise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policy and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) must not hesitate to criticise them. "Some countries use cross-border terrorism as instrument in sync with their policy. SCO must not hesitate to criticise such countries," PM Modi said while virtually addressing the SCO summit. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were among those who were present at the summit hosted by India.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Tuesday for closer energy cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which includes Russia, China and India and is preparing to admit Iran. Tokayev told a virtual meeting of SCO leaders that Kazakhstan was ready to host an SCO energy conference and proposed developing a joint energy strategy for the organisation over the next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday. China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and other SCO leaders will participate in the virtual summit. This will be Putin’s first appearance at an international event since Russia crushed an armed rebellion by Wagner mercenaries in June. Key topics expected to be discussed include the situation in Afghanistan, the Ukraine conflict, and increased cooperation among member countries.