At the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held on September 1 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of prioritizing development and security. He called for the SCO to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and regional stability, urging member states to work towards shared prosperity and a secure regional environment. Xi also advocated for more equitable global governance and opposed unilateralism and confrontation.
Addressing the summit, Xi reflected on the 25-year progress of the SCO, highlighting its foundational principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, and respect for diverse civilizations. He urged members to bolster cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, connectivity, energy, and resources. Additionally, he emphasized the need to expand collaboration in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and green industries.
On the security front, Xi called for coordinated efforts among SCO members to tackle both traditional and nontraditional threats, aiming to reinforce regional stability. He expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with other nations in promoting a common, comprehensive, and sustainable approach to security challenges.
The summit’s participants recognized the significant development of the SCO over the past quarter-century and underscored the necessity of enhanced cooperation to maintain regional peace, stability, and prosperity. The gathering concluded with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration and a series of agreements focused on security, economic, cultural, and organizational collaboration.