24th SCO Summit 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan

The 24th SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, with notable attendees including Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, and UN Secretary-General Guterres.

Summit Overview and Attendance

24th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Meeting held on July 4, 2024, in Astana, Kazakhstan
Hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Notable attendees: Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, UN Secretary-General Guterres
India represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, not PM Modi
Belarus admitted as 10th full member of SCO

SCO Member Countries

1. China, 2. India, 3. Kazakhstan, 4. Kyrgyzstan, 5. Russia, 6. Pakistan, 7. Tajikistan, 8. Uzbekistan, 9. Iran, 10. (New Member) - Belarus

Key Discussions and Developments

Focus on reviewing SCO activities over past two decades
Emphasis on multilateral cooperation and regional issues
Indian priorities shaped by PM Modi's 'SECURE' vision (Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty, Environmental protection)
Strong stance against terrorism: Dr. Jaishankar read PM Modi's address calling for decisive action against cross-border terrorism and its financing
Discussion on SCO expansion: Originally 5 members in 2001, now 10 with recent additions of India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus

Future Outlook and SCO Structure

Next summit (25th) to be held in China, which has taken over SCO presidency
Qingdao named SCO's tourism and cultural capital for 2024-2025
SCO focuses on regional security and cooperation
Concerns raised about SCO potentially becoming an anti-Western alliance led by China and Russia
Council of Heads of States is SCO's highest decision-making body, meeting annually
SCO headquarters in Beijing, China
10 permanent members and 2 observer members (Afghanistan and Mongolia)

EU & G7 Lower Russia Oil Price Cap

The Russia oil price cap is once again dominating headlines as the European Union (EU) announced its 18th package of sanctions against Russia. These measures are specifically designed to reduce Ru

Yarlung Zangbo Dam Project of China

The Yarlung Zangbo Dam Project is one of the most significant international developments in recent times. Positioned on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, this Chinese dam project is set to

Solar Corona Heating Mystery 2025

One of the most baffling and long-standing questions in astrophysics is the Solar corona heating mystery – Why is the solar corona millions of degrees hotter than the Sun’s surface? NA

SAFE Strategy WHO for Disease Control

In July 2025, Senegal achieved a major public health milestone when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the country free of trachoma as a public health problem. This developmen

UK General Election 2029 Changes

The UK general election 2029 changes have introduced a series of significant reforms to the UK’s electoral system. These reforms aim to increase youth participation, modernise the voting sys

Ukraine's New Prime Minister 2025

In a major political development, Yuliia Svyrydenko has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of 2025, replacing Denys Shmyhal. This strategic shift, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,

WHO Treatment Protocol for Zika Virus 2025

In July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever unified clinical guidelines for managing arboviral diseases, including Zika virus, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

Khmer Rouge Genocide in Cambodia

In a landmark decision on July 11, 2025, UNESCO officially recognized three sites linked to the Khmer Rouge genocide history as World Heritage Sites. This inclusion occurred during the 47th Se

US Tariff on Asian Countries

The US tariff on Asian countries became a headline-making international issue in 2025. It carries major implications for global trade, diplomatic ties, and economic stability, making it a critical

SEBI Action on Jane Street

In one of the most significant regulatory crackdowns in Indian financial history, the SEBI action on Jane Street has grabbed headlines and raised critical discussions around foreign investment, ma