The visit of several world
leaders to Astana for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit
reflects the growing interest in Kazakhstan as an active participant in global affairs.
Since joining the SCO, the country has played a key role in fostering mutual
trust and understanding among member states and has made significant
contributions to the common interests of all SCO countries as the chair. This
was discussed by Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Nagendra Prasad. According to
him, hosting such a prestigious event in Astana underscores Kazakhstan’s
substantial authority on the global stage. The country pursues an active
foreign policy aimed at multilateral cooperation, including with India, which
hosted the Summit of the Council of the SCO Heads of State last year. The
Ambassador noted that India’s leadership is keen to advance its strategic
partnership with Kazakhstan, as evidenced by its participation in the Summit.
«The SCO is a very important
regional organization, and we were very happy to join in 2017. Since then, the
regional cooperation has grown. India has been involved in various initiatives
of the Organization: political, economic, cultural, and even in other spheres
of cooperation within the region. Last year, India was the chairperson of the
SCO. And we have done around 130 meetings. I would like to, first of all,
congratulate on their successful presidency, and wish them all the best on a
successful summit, which will witness so many leaders from the organization in
Astana,» Prasad said.