International Desk: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on leaders of regional security bloc that includes Russia and China to address energy and food crises sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Modi was addressing a summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members in the Silk Road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan yesterday.

“The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine have caused many disruptions in global supply chains, leaving the world facing unprecedented energy and food crises. SCO should strive to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region,” Modi said.

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Other than India, SCO members include China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India and SCO member states are expected to discuss energy security at the summit, which coincides with a sharp rise in Indian imports of Russian oil, coal and fertiliser.