New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to represent India at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting. The highly anticipated multilateral summit is scheduled to be held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on October 19 and 20.
According to an official government statement released on Sunday, the high-level meeting will primarily focus on enhancing regional cooperation among the member nations. The core agenda of the two-day summit involves comprehensive discussions on boosting regional trade, strengthening the economy, and expanding investments across the SCO region.
During the gathering, leaders are expected to thoroughly review the progress of ongoing cooperation initiatives within the bloc. Furthermore, the member states will deliberate and consider crucial decisions pertaining to the financial and institutional functioning of the organisation, aiming to foster greater stability and mutual benefit in a rapidly changing global landscape.
India’s proactive participation in the SCO underscores New Delhi’s sustained commitment to regional security, connectivity, and economic integration in Eurasia. Last year, the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting took place in Moscow, Russia, on November 18, 2025, where India was formally represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a prominent Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance that was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Recognizing its strategic and geographic importance, India, along with neighbouring Pakistan, was formally admitted as a full permanent member of the influential bloc in 2017.