External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar met with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev in Beijing on July 14, 2025, to discuss the growing role of the SCO and ongoing efforts to modernise its structure and functioning. The meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement ahead of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (CFM) scheduled to be held in Tianjin, China.

This is Jaishankar’s first visit to Beijing in five years, and it follows his official visit to Singapore, where regional cooperation and strategic alignments were also on the agenda. In Beijing, he is scheduled to participate in multilateral discussions during the SCO CFM, as well as hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines with counterparts from SCO member states.

“Glad to meet SCO SG Nurlan Yermekbayev in Beijing today. Discussed the contribution and importance of SCO, as well as the endeavors to modernize its working,” Jaishankar said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Focus on SCO’s Evolving Role and Reform Agenda

The SCO, founded in 2001, has grown into a prominent intergovernmental international organisation focused on regional cooperation in security, economic, and cultural spheres. The organisation’s membership currently includes India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. With its growing footprint, the SCO is undergoing an internal restructuring and modernisation process, which aims to enhance its decision-making efficiency, improve inter-member collaboration, and make it more agile in responding to regional and global challenges.

Jaishankar’s meeting with Secretary General Yermekbayev came at a crucial juncture, with the 25th SCO Heads of State Council Meeting scheduled to be held in Tianjin later in 2025. India, which chaired the SCO presidency in 2023, has consistently advocated for making the organisation more relevant and responsive to the changing geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape.

Strategic Importance of the Tianjin Meeting

The upcoming SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin is expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including:

• Counter-terrorism coordination and security cooperation

• Regional connectivity and infrastructure development

• Energy and trade integration

• Climate change and sustainable development initiatives

• Digital governance and cross-border technology frameworks

Jaishankar’s dialogue with the SCO Secretary General is viewed as a precursor to India’s strong diplomatic engagement during the meeting, and is also seen as an effort to assert India’s position on a rules-based international order, regional stability, and the future direction of the SCO.

India’s Role in the SCO

Since joining the SCO as a full member in 2017, India has consistently engaged with the organisation to promote regional stability, economic integration, and counterterrorism efforts. India’s approach to the SCO has been grounded in promoting multilateralism, connectivity, and respect for sovereignty.

During its 2023 Presidency, India hosted various high-level summits and working group meetings that focused on:

• Health and pandemic cooperation

• Cybersecurity and data sovereignty

• Youth and cultural exchanges

• Trade facilitation and digital commerce

India’s diplomatic presence at the 2025 SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting reinforces its strategic commitment to Eurasia, where it continues to counterbalance both Chinese influence and the security dynamics shaped by Russia and Central Asian powers.

Geopolitical Context and Regional Implications

The discussions between Jaishankar and Yermekbayev also take place against the backdrop of a complex geopolitical environment, shaped by:

• Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with implications for Eurasian stability

• Tensions between India and China, particularly post-2020 border clashes in eastern Ladakh

• China’s expanding influence in Central Asia, through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

• The West’s pivot towards the Indo-Pacific, which indirectly influences Eurasian multilateralism

India has walked a careful diplomatic line in balancing its strategic partnerships in the West with its commitments in regional groupings like SCO, BRICS, and the Quad. The renewed emphasis on SCO reform and modernisation comes as part of India’s wider effort to promote institutional transparency, accountability, and equitable governance in multilateral platforms.

The Path Forward for the SCO

The SCO's expansion to include Iran and Belarus as full members has further elevated its global significance, transforming it from a regional bloc to a transcontinental grouping that connects South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

However, the SCO also faces internal challenges, such as:

• Diverging national interests

• Security coordination gaps

• Slow decision-making processes

• Limited institutional agility

To address these issues, reform efforts being championed by members like India are focused on:

• Streamlining procedural mechanisms

• Enhancing institutional coherence

• Adopting digital tools for real-time collaboration

• Strengthening economic cooperation frameworks

During his visit, Jaishankar is expected to raise these concerns and propose policy measures that make the SCO a more relevant, action-oriented institution in the current global order.

Summary

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev in Beijing marked a pivotal diplomatic step toward advancing the modernisation of the SCO. With the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin on the horizon, India is actively engaging with key stakeholders to redefine the organisation’s strategic agenda, enhance its relevance, and ensure it effectively addresses regional and global challenges. The discussions signal India’s ongoing commitment to multilateral diplomacy, strategic autonomy, and regional stability through proactive dialogue and institutional reforms.

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