The October 19–20 meeting in Dushanbe will focus on trade, investment, connectivity, innovation and regional cooperation among SCO member states.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to represent India at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), scheduled for October 19–20, 2026, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation among SCO member states, particularly in trade, the economy, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural-humanitarian exchanges. Participants will also review the progress of ongoing cooperation initiatives and consider decisions concerning the organisation’s financial and institutional functioning.
India continues to participate actively in various SCO mechanisms and contribute to regional cooperation through initiatives focused on start-ups and innovation, digital public infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. The upcoming meeting will provide India with an opportunity to exchange views with other member states on advancing practical and mutually beneficial cooperation within the organisation.
The previous meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government was held in Moscow, Russia, on November 18, 2025. India was represented by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. The SCO serves as a multilateral platform for cooperation among its member states across economic, political and cultural areas, with regional connectivity and development forming key areas of engagement.