NEW DELHI (BNS): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead a high-level delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting to be held in Qingdao, China from June 25 to 26, 2025. 

During the meeting, the Defence Ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states.

Rajnath Singh is expected to highlight India’s continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India’s vision towards achieving greater international peace & security, call for joint & consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism & extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation & connectivity within SCO. 

Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting, an official release issued by the MoD stated on Tuesday.

India attaches special importance to SCO in promoting “multi-lateralism”, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. 

SCO – an inter-governmental organisation established in 2001 – pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states.

India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. 

The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. 

China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme ‘Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move’.