Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed
Discussing the current state and future prospects of multilateral cooperation will be high on the agenda as leaders converge in Astana for the SCO Summit on Thursday (July 4, 2024). 
 
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will represent India at the 24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, or the SCO Summit, being held under Kazakhstan’s presidency. 
 
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), leaders attending the summit are expected to review the organization’s activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation. "Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting," the MEA stated in a press release issued on Tuesday (July 2, 2024).

India’s priorities in SCO are shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘SECURE’ SCO. SECURE stands for Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environmental protection. 
 
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a political, economic, and security organization founded in 2001. The founding members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 
 
India's association with the SCO began in 2005 as an Observer country. India became a full Member State of SCO at the 17th SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan in June 2017, which was attended by Prime Minister Modi.

India hosted the Summit of the SCO Heads of State on July 4, 2023 after taking over the rotating Presidency at the 2022 Summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
 
The SCO aims to promote cooperation in various fields including security, trade, economy, and cultural exchange. It has evolved into a major platform for regional dialogue and cooperation, addressing challenges such as terrorism, separatism, and extremism, while also fostering economic collaboration.