Xi Jinping puts forward four proposals for the development of the SCO
Over the past 25 years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has evolved from a regional cooperation mechanism into a major international platform. Today, the organization faces a new challenge — preserving the spirit of cooperation amid growing instability and finding common solutions for development, security and peace.
On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward four proposals for the future development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO’s founding. He said the organization was created on the basis of a shared desire among regional countries to safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests while responding to common threats and challenges.
Over the past 25 years, the SCO has developed into a new type of regional cooperation organization covering a vast geographical area and representing a large population. Xi Jinping described the “Shanghai Spirit” — mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations and the pursuit of common development — as the organization’s most valuable spiritual legacy.
Xi Jinping’s first proposal is to maintain development as a priority and create prospects for common prosperity. He called for expanded cooperation in trade, investment, transport, energy and resources, as well as new areas including artificial intelligence, the digital economy and green industries. China will also establish an international cooperation center on AI applications for SCO countries and implement 100 technology cooperation projects over the next three years.
The second proposal focuses on security. Xi Jinping called on SCO members to jointly address traditional and non-traditional security threats, combat transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and telecommunications fraud, and strengthen cooperation in information, biological and space security.
The third direction is to strengthen people-to-people ties. According to Xi Jinping, the SCO should take into account the historical and cultural characteristics of its member states and expand cooperation among educational institutions, think tanks, businesses and media organizations. China is ready to establish new platforms for educational cooperation and expand people-to-people exchanges.
The fourth proposal is to promote dialogue and consultation and work toward fairer and more orderly global governance. Xi Jinping emphasized that all countries, regardless of their size, should participate equally in discussions on regional issues, while differences should be resolved through dialogue.
SCO member-state leaders reaffirmed the organization’s achievements over the past 25 years and signed the Bishkek Declaration. The summit also adopted documents covering security, economic and people-to-people cooperation, as well as organizational development. It was also decided that Pakistan would assume the rotating SCO presidency for 2026–2027.
As reported by SSTV+, the summit participants reaffirmed their commitment to the “Shanghai Spirit”, broader cooperation in security, economic, technological and humanitarian fields, and a stronger role for the SCO in promoting regional peace, stability and development.
