Issues of regional and international importance are expected to be discussed at the meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the Indian delegation and address the plenary session of the 21st meeting of SCO Council of Heads of State, scheduled to be held on Friday in Dushanbe.

The Prime Minister will address the SCO meet virtually through video link, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

The SCO Council of Heads of State meet to be chaired by President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, will be attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar physically.

Topical issues of regional and international importance are expected to be discussed at the meet, the MEA said, adding this will be the first SCO Summit to be held in a hybrid format and the fourth Summit that India will participate as a full-fledged member of SCO.

The Summit assumes significance as the organization is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. At the Summit, the leaders are expected to review the organization’s activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of future cooperation.

The SCO Summit will be attended by the leaders of the SCO Member States, Observer States, Secretary General of the SCO, Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), President of Turkmenistan and other invited guests.