Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) announced that India will host the first Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue Forum by the end of this year and invited all member countries to participate in it.

Mr. Singh made these remarks while addressing the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

“India, at the end of this year, will host the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum. We invite all SCO member countries to participate in it,” Singh said.

During the SCO summit of the Council of Heads of State in Tianjin in 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed to create a Civilisational Dialogue Forum to strengthen people-to-people ties and allow sharing of the richness of ancient civilisations, art, literature, and traditions on a global stage.

Mr. Singh also mentioned the 25-year journey of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. “At the SCO Summit in Bishkek, our leaders had highlighted the 25-year journey of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. That occasion was not only for reviewing our shared journey but also for deliberations on the future direction.”

In Bishkek, Prime Minister Modi had reiterated India’s vision for security, connectivity, and opportunity for the SCO.

In Dushanbe, Defence Minister Singh also underlined that India’s global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure contribute to affordable clean energy & climate-resilient development. He added that Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles and responsible consumption, while the Global Biofuel Alliance fosters 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, according to an official statement released by the Press Information Bureau.

The SCO CHG is an important mechanism of the Organisation responsible for promoting economic and other areas of practical cooperation among Member States. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017 and continues to participate actively in its various mechanisms.

Earlier in the day, he met Tajikistan Prime Minister Qohir Rosulzoda as he arrived with other leaders for the upcoming two-day meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

After meeting Mr. Rosulzoda, Mr. Singh underlined the longstanding civilisational ties and deep people-to-people links between India and Tajikistan.

In his X post, Mr. Singh posted the message “Delighted to meet H.E. Mr Qohir Rosulzoda, Prime Minister of Tajikistan at the commencement of SCO Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe. Underlined the longstanding civilisational ties and deep people to people links between India and Tajikistan.”