SCO offers countries a choice of development paths, expert says
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) offers a pluralistic platform that allows countries to choose different development paths according to their own strategies and goals, says researcher and regional expert Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director of the Central Asian Institute for Regional Economic Cooperation, a think tank based in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China, in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Tuesday, the final day of the two day SCO 2026 summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
When an international organisation marks a quarter century of existence, it inevitably becomes not just a mechanism of interaction but a reflection of an entire era. The SCO, born in Shanghai in 2001, has evolved from a regional security forum into one of the most influential platforms for cooperation across the Eurasian continent. Its uniqueness lies in its rejection of a single ideology and its willingness to embrace diversity. As the expert emphasised, this very diversity has become its strength, allowing countries with different political systems and economic structures to find common ground and build a shared future. On its 25th anniversary, the SCO continues to prove that cooperation does not require uniformity, and harmony is possible without sameness.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO's founding, and Akizhanov stressed that the organisation is based on the principle of cooperation rather than any single ideology, allowing a wide range of countries, especially Global South nations, to develop their economies according to their own needs. "I believe the main reason is that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is not based on any ideological unification or a single economic model. It is based on the principle of cooperation between countries with different political systems, different economic structures and different levels of economic development. So this diversity is actually one of its strengths, as SCO countries increasingly represent the Global South and, I would say, the broader non Western world," he said.
Founded in Shanghai in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the SCO has since grown into a much broader platform, with India and Pakistan joining in 2017, Iran in 2023 and Belarus a year later, bringing the number of full members to ten, along with two observer states and 15 dialogue partners. Akizhanov noted that the SCO's appeal lies in the fact that it does not seek to impose its decisions on members, but instead provides them with space to develop according to their own systems and strategic approaches.
"Many developing countries are seeking greater political space, a more pluralistic vision of development, and the implementation of their own civilisational strategies, as in the Central Asian countries, which are seeking infrastructure development, technological modernisation and social development, rather than just following standardised neoliberal prescriptions," he said. "The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation provides a platform where countries can cooperate without being required to abandon their own strategies or development models or adopt a single ideological template. Therefore, from a practical and economic point of view, this is particularly important, as the region has vast complementary resources — natural resources, energy, minerals, agricultural products and larger consumer markets," Akizhanov added.
The SCO was founded in 2001 as the successor to the "Shanghai Five" (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), established in 1996 to build trust in border matters. Over a quarter century, the organisation has become one of the key multilateral cooperation formats in Eurasia, covering not only security but also trade, transport, energy, agriculture, science, education, healthcare and culture. The "Shanghai spirit" — principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and the pursuit of shared development — remains the organisation's ideological foundation. The expansion of its membership and growing influence on the global stage make the SCO an important element of the emerging multipolar world.
As CCTV+ reports, the SCO, marking its 25th anniversary, is today one of the most dynamically developing international organisations. Its appeal to Global South countries lies in offering cooperation without dictates, partnership without loss of sovereignty. In a world where voices for multipolarity are growing louder, the SCO is becoming an example of how to build a shared future without abandoning one's own identity. In the coming years, the organisation will continue to expand its presence and influence, opening new opportunities for its members and partners.
