As India prepares for SCO Summit, a look at how New Delhi's association with bloc began

PM Narendra Modi will be virtually hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit today. SCO is a political and security group of 8 member nations that seeks to counter western influence in the Eurasia region. India's association with the SCO began in 2005 as an observer country. It became a full member state of SCO at the Astana summit in 2017. Earlier, the summit was scheduled to take place in-person in New Delhi, but the plan was changed in early June. This virtual summit will also witness Iran becoming the newest and a permanent member of the alliance besides opening its doors for Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin , Chinese President Xi Jinping..and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be joining the meet. The Summit is expected to focus on regional security situation and ways to boost connectivity and trade. #SCOvirtualsummit #PMNarendramodi #Vladimirputin ~PR.153~HT.178~