New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend a two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), beginning from Tuesday in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
During the meeting it is expected that several pressing issues including threat of terrorism will be discussed.
The SCO group of countries consider it necessary to promote the creation of a single global anti-terrorism front with the UN playing a central coordinating role.
The External Affairs Ministry said that the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will exchange views on topical issues of international and regional importance, besides reviewing the preparation for the SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13-14.
India is also keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.
At the Bishkek meeting, Swaraj would come face to face with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. There has been speculation that both may meet.
India and Pakistan became SCO members in 2017.
The MEA said, "India actively took part in various SCO dialogue mechanisms under the Chairmanship of the Kyrgyz Republic over the past year."
Last month, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the SCO Defence Ministers' conclave in Bishkek.
India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.
Swaraj's programme in Bishkek will include a joint call of SCO Foreign Ministers on Kyrgyz President Sooranbay Jeenbekov.
The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
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