The foreign ministers of a major forum led by China and Russia have discussed security and the economy in Goa, southern India.

The eight members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization also include Pakistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations.

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the group accounts for 40 percent of the global population, adding that they have the collective power to impact the world with their decisions.

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang reportedly expressed opposition to external forces interfering in regional issues. The comment is widely seen as a reference to the United States.

Beijing and Moscow seek stronger unity within the forum, apparently to counter Washington.

At the same time, India maintains ties with the West. The country is a member of the Quad framework with the United States, Japan and Australia.