At SCO meet, Jaishankar takes aim at China’s BRI: ‘Connectivity projects should respect sovereignty’

Connectivity tasks ought to recognize the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of nations, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday stated, in an obvious connection with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The External Affairs Minister changed into talking on the digital assembly of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) hosted with the aid of using Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. A joint communication issued on the stop of the assembly stated Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their aid for China’s BRI and to paintings together to put in force the project.

India changed into now no longer most of the SCO-member nations that supported the BRI. In his address, Jaishankar additionally stated India intends to foster more cooperation with the SCO member states in countering the worldwide meals crisis. He later tweeted: “Represented India on the assembly of SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) which has simply concluded. Underlined that we want higher connectivity withinside the SCO place constructed at the centrality of pursuits of Central Asian states.” Stressing on higher connectivity, Jaishankar stated it’ll free up the monetary capability of the SCO place, wherein Chabahar port and the International North South Transport Corridor may want to end up enablers. “Connectivity tasks ought to recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states and recognize global law,” he stated.