Sitharaman attends SCO conclave in Kyrgyzstan; holds talks with Chinese counterpart

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday attended a key conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan and held bilateral meetings on its sidelines, including with her Chinese counterpart.

Sitharaman attended the SCO Defence Ministers' conclave in Bishkek where ways to further boost defence and security cooperation among the member countries in the wake of evolving security challenges in the region were discussed.

On the sidelines of the conclave, Sitharaman attended a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe.

The defence minister held talks with Russian Defence Minister General Sergey Shoygu and discussed key bilateral defence issues.

She also held a bilateral meeting with Major General Raimberdi Duishenbiev, Chief of General Staff of Kyrgyz Armed Forces, and discussed defence cooperation between the two countries.

India became a full member of the the China-dominated grouping in 2017 and New Delhi's entry into it increased the ...