At the recent 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of prioritizing development and security within the organization. Addressing the members on September 1, Xi advocated for enhanced dialogue, cooperation, and regional stability. He underscored the need for the SCO to foster shared prosperity and create a more secure regional environment. Additionally, Xi urged the organization to support equitable global governance while opposing confrontation and unilateral actions.
Xi highlighted the achievements of the SCO over the past 25 years, emphasizing its foundational principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, and respect for different civilizations. He called for increased cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, connectivity, energy, and resources. Xi also pointed to the importance of expanding collaboration in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and green industries.
On the issue of security, Xi urged member states to coordinate their efforts to address both traditional and nontraditional threats, with the goal of strengthening regional stability. He expressed China’s readiness to work alongside other SCO members to promote a common, comprehensive, and sustainable approach to security challenges.
During the Bishkek summit, SCO leaders collectively endorsed the organization’s progress over the past 25 years, reinforcing their commitment to greater cooperation aimed at safeguarding regional peace, stability, and prosperity. The summit concluded with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration and a series of agreements that encompass security, economic, cultural, and organizational cooperation.