24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State: Key Highlights and Developments
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) |
| Date | July 4, 2024 |
| Host | Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev |
| Location | Astana, Kazakhstan |
| Notable Attendees | - Russian President Vladimir Putin - Chinese President Xi Jinping - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres |
| India's Representation | - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend - Represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar |
| Key Developments | - Belarus Joins SCO: Admitted as the 10th full member, previously an observer - Combating Terrorism: PM Modi's address emphasized decisive action against terrorism, countering terrorism financing, and recruitment - SCO Expansion: Established in 2001 with 5 members; India and Pakistan joined in 2017; Iran in 2023; Belarus in 2024 |
| Next SCO Summit | - 25th SCO Summit to be held in China - China takes over rotating presidency from Kazakhstan - Qingdao named SCO's tourism and cultural capital for 2024-2025 |
| About SCO | - Purpose: Intergovernmental organization focused on regional security and cooperation - Concerns: Some view it as an anti-Western alliance led by China and Russia - Structure: Council of Heads of States is the highest decision-making body, meeting annually - Key Facts: Headquarters in Beijing, China; 10 permanent members (including Belarus); Observer members: Afghanistan and Mongolia |