India supports basic SCO principles: official
13/6/2006 17:13
India supports the basic objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) and is interested in participating in economic and
anti-terror cooperation within the SCO framework, an Indian External Affair
Ministry official has said.
"India is keenly interested in participating in
all activities focused on socio-economic development," P. V. Rao, director of
the ministry's External Publicity Division, told Xinhua in an interview by
fax.
India was admitted as an observer at the SCO Astana summit on July 5,
2005.
"We have indicated interest to participate in the meeting of the SCO
Business Council, the SCO Development Fund, Inter-Banking Agreement, Economic
Forum and related bodies," Rao said.
Rao expressed India's desire for working
together with the SCO to fight terrorism and drug trafficking.
Rao said India
supports the basic objectives of the SCO that are focused on strengthening
mutual trust, good neighborhood, friendship and cooperation, maintenance of
regional peace, security and stability, and assistance for economic and social
development in the region.
V. R. Raghavan, director of New Delhi-based Delhi
Policy Group, said India is happy to see the encouraging development of the SCO,
hoping the organization will play an active role in maintaining regional peace
and stability.
India hopes the 2006 SCO summit slated for Thursday in
Shanghai will be able to do something in maintaining stability in Central Asia,
he said.
Xinhua News
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