India to host inaugural SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum by end of 2026: Rajnath Singh in Tajikistan

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the upcoming two-day meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19 and 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to join the session virtually, according to a senior Indian government official. The meeting will take place under Tajikistan's chairmanship for the year and is anticipated to focus on enhancing practical cooperation among member states, especially in trade, investment, transport, and logistics. During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with Tajikistan's prime minister. Discussions are expected to cover reviewing bilateral relations and exploring new areas of collaboration. The SCO meeting's agenda includes topics such as trade and economic cooperation, investment, industrial collaboration, transport and logistics, the development of the creative and digital economy, innovation, and financial interaction. Social, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation will also be discussed. The meeting will gather heads of government and senior representatives from SCO member states to deliberate on regional cooperation and economic engagement. Prime Minister Modi typically participates in the Council of Heads of State meetings, as he did at the 26th meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, earlier in the year. Separately, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Premier Li Qiang will visit Tajikistan from October 18 to 20 and attend the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting. Other member states, including Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus, are expected to send their heads of government or senior officials. The SCO serves as a platform for countries across Eurasia to collaborate on regional security, economic development, and cultural exchanges. The Council of Heads of Government is one of its main mechanisms for discussing economic and other areas of practical cooperation. Rajnath Singh announced during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe that India will host the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum by the end of 2026 and invited all member countries to participate. This initiative follows a proposal by Prime Minister Modi during the SCO Summit in Tianjin in 2025 to establish a forum aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties and sharing the richness of ancient civilizations, art, literature, and traditions globally. Singh also emphasized India's contributions through global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which promote affordable clean energy and climate-resilient development. He noted that Mission LiFE encourages sustainable lifestyles and responsible consumption, while the Global Biofuel Alliance supports cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. The Heads of Delegation adopted the Joint Communiqué of the 25th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, including the SCO budget for 2027, relevant financial and administrative decisions, and the PMTEC Action Plan for 2026-2030. The SCO Council of Heads of Government is a crucial mechanism within the organisation, facilitating economic and other areas of practical cooperation among member states. India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 and continues to engage actively in its various mechanisms. Earlier in the day, Singh met with Tajikistan's Prime Minister Qohir Rosulzoda and highlighted the enduring civilisational ties and deep people-to-people connections between India and Tajikistan.