On 13 January 2020, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov, who is visiting India, delivered a lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
In their opening remarks before the lecture, Head of the National Security Advisory Board P. S. Raghavan and ICWA Director General T. C. A. Raghavan, both former ambassadors to Russia, praised the SCO's role in Eurasian politics and security. They emphasised India's interest in multilateral cooperation with the SCO member states and the country's potential for the further development of trade and economic cooperation, including its innovation capabilities.
SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov pointed out during his lecture that the Indian Council of World Affairs, which analyses the main regional and international matters, represents India at the SCO Forum, the organisation's think tank that brings together experts from the SCO research institutions. "The SCO attaches great importance to information and analytical efforts and is working to expand an expert dialogue between the research centres of the SCO member states, ASEAN and Europe. The SCO Secretariat is an active participant on international conferences and seminars and often invites prominent researchers and political analysts to the SCO headquarters to exchange views on current international affairs," Vladimir Norov noted.
He recounted the history of the SCO and the main spheres of activity, adding that India's accession to the organisation had given it a global profile and new opportunities for deepening full-scale cooperation. It has also strengthened the SCO's role as a vital instrument of regional and global politics, security and sustainable development.
Vladimir Norov highly assessed the initiatives and proposals advanced by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the latest SCO summits in Qingdao and Bishkek. These initiatives and proposals are aimed at furthering cooperation in the field of regional security, strengthening economic interaction and promoting the development of alternative energy sources and environmental protection.
The SCO Secretary-General updated the Indian colleagues on the SCO's comprehensive approach to counterterrorism, which implies the use of a great number of measures to prevent the proliferation of radical ideas in society. He emphasised the SCO's resolve to work together with civil societies and the media to root out propaganda of terrorism and extremism as its breeding ground under the guidance of government organisations.
Vladimir Norov noted the alarming developments in Afghanistan that are threatening to become a source of instability and terrorism for the neighbouring Central and South Asian nations.
In light of the persistent threat of terrorism, drug trafficking and cross-border organised crime, the SCO should work towards a comprehensive settlement of the Afghan problem by promoting a political and economic rehabilitation of the country. These goals can be achieved through the efforts of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group at the level of deputy foreign ministers. The necessary practical steps have been set out in the Roadmap for Afghanistan signed on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek in June 2019.
The SCO Secretary-General spoke about new prospects for trade and economic cooperation, especially considering the establishment of the North-South transport corridor and India joining the Ashgabat Agreement for creating an international transport and transit corridor between St Petersburg and the Indian port of Mumbai. "We are interested in the idea of forming the Greater Eurasian Partnership, a wide integrational structure that will develop based on the network of regional organisations and cross-continental projects. There is no doubt that their implementation can strengthen economic cooperation on the continent, create a common transport and energy infrastructure and encourage technological progress," the Secretary-General noted.
According to him, the SCO follows with great interest the development of India and ASEAN's Indo-Pacific Concept, which envisages the creative, inclusive and non-confrontational character of multifaceted cooperation, alignment and sustainable development as well as respect of international law and openness for everyone ready to work based on these principles.
Mr Norov spoke out in favour of promoting cooperation between the think tanks of the SCO "family" states, the European Union and ASEAN, stressing that in today's volatile global situation experts and scientists involved in forecasting must fulfill their responsibility.
The event participants also had an opportunity to watch a video on the Eight Wonders of the SCO project.
In conclusion, the Secretary-General answered questions from the audience, which were mostly dedicated to the prospects of the SCO's activities regarding security and economic cooperation.