Benefits for India
Platform for India to enhance economic cooperation with Central Asian countries, which have vast reserves of natural resources.
Trade and investment ties with the SCO countries.
Central Asia has vast reserves of oil and gas, and India is looking to tap into these resources to enhance its energy security.
Forum for India to engage with the energy-rich countries of Central Asia and explore opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector.
The Samarkand Declaration, signed at the 22nd Summit, centralizes connectivity which is a priority for India, as well as energy and food security.
SCO member countries have decided to designate one city (from SCO member countries) as tourism and cultural capital every year under a rotating initiative.
“Kashi” (Varanasi) has been designated as the first cultural capital of the SCO under this initiative.
Counterterrorism cooperation.
Challenges
China’s Rise
SCO lacks a formal mechanism for resolving disputes between member states.
Different strategic priorities such as CPEC, border infrastructure projects etc., which can lead to internal conflicts and disagreements on issues such as economic cooperation and security.
Border disputes among members.
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