India to sign Memorandum of Obligation to join SCO today

India will sign a memorandum of obligation in Tashkent today to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). India is likely to be given the status of full member of the SCO during the extended meeting of member states and observer countries of the organisation today. 

India will also sign about 30 other documents during the period of one year to become a permanent member of the SCO.  Prime Ministers Narendra Modi will hold bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Russia, Belarus and Tajikistan on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tashkent today. 

The two-day SCO summit began yesterday. The Prime Minister's meeting with the Russian President assumes significance in the backdrop of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Meeting in Seoul. Mr. Modi is expected to raise the



issue of India’s NSG membership during the meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Russia’s support at this point in time may boost the chances of India becoming member of prestigious nuclear group. France and US have already reiterated their support for India’s membership to the Nuclear Supplier Group(NSG) saying New Delhi’s entry into the NSG will help better regulate nuclear trade. 

Earlier yesterday, Mr Modi raised this issue during the meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Mr Modi urged China for fair and objective assessment of India’s application to NSG and said that it should judged on its merit. 

Before leaving for New Delhi, Mr Modi will visit pay tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent.