Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) gathered in Bishkek on 1 September for the group's 25th anniversary summit, hosted by Kyrgyzstan, which holds the rotating chairmanship for 2025–2026. The meeting brought together the heads of state of all ten member countries, from Beijing and Moscow to New Delhi and Tehran.
In his address, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kyrgyzstan on organising the summit and noted that both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are marking 35 years of independence this year. He recalled that the SCO, which began as the “Shanghai Five”, has grown into a major Eurasian organisation representing nearly half of the world's population.
Tokayev painted a stark picture of the current global landscape. “The world in which our Organisation was created has changed significantly. We are witnessing the emergence of a new architecture of international relations. Consolidation is giving way to fragmentation, the pursuit of cooperation to geopolitical rivalry, and the search for a balance of interests to deepening divisions,” he said. He stressed that the SCO is not a military-political bloc and is not directed against any state, but is guided by the “Shanghai Spirit” of joint progress.
Security and stability on the agenda
On security, Tokayev proposed convening an SCO ministerial conference on strategic stability and confidence-building measures in Eurasia. The agenda would cover military risk reduction, preventing a new arms race, and avoiding dangerous incidents. He expressed concern that armed conflicts are increasingly spilling beyond their immediate zones, affecting international markets, commercial shipping, and the stability of energy and transport links. “As a result, the risk of crises spilling across borders has increased significantly,” he warned.
The Kazakh leader also reaffirmed that combating terrorism, extremism, separatism, transnational crime, drug and arms trafficking, and cyber threats remains a core priority for the organisation.
Trade and investment: from words to action
Turning to economics, Tokayev noted that trade among SCO members is steadily approaching $1 trillion (about €863 billion), but the potential is far from exhausted. He called for creating a broad SCO trade and investment space with fewer barriers, digital procedures, and stronger transport and logistics links. “We believe it is important to move from agreements to concrete initiatives,” he said.
To that end, he proposed launching pilot industrial consortiums that would allow member states to start projects as soon as they are ready, without waiting for unanimous participation. He also floated the idea of SCO cross-border trade zones based on existing border cooperation centres, with simplified procedures, digital processes, and modern payment mechanisms.
Kazakhstan supports China's initiative to establish an SCO Development Bank, with resources focused on infrastructure, technology, and industrial projects. Tokayev said Kazakhstan would be ready to host the bank's headquarters if member states reach a consensus.
Connectivity and digital integration
Enhancing connectivity is another priority. Tokayev highlighted the importance of linking major transport routes, including China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the North-South Corridor, and emerging trade routes between Central and South Asia. He proposed a unified SCO digital transit platform for cargo movement and an SCO transport connectivity strategy through 2035.
On technology, Kazakhstan, as a founding member of the China-initiated World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, proposed creating an SCO network of AI centres that would bring together universities, research institutions, and tech companies from member states. Tokayev argued that such a network could help countries move from sharing expertise to jointly developing technologies and building their own AI ecosystems.
Broader global vision
In the subsequent SCO Plus format, Tokayev called for a global order based on shared responsibility, development, and long-term cooperation rather than confrontation. He proposed enshrining the SCO's principles of equality and consensus in a dedicated UN General Assembly resolution. He also backed UN Secretary-General António Guterres' reform efforts and highlighted the growing role of responsible middle powers in promoting dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution. Kazakhstan joined the China-initiated Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation in July 2026.
Water security was another key theme. Tokayev proposed creating an International Water Organization under the UN and, at the regional level, an SCO Centre for Water Issues Analysis.
The SCO currently comprises China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. The summit in Bishkek underscored the bloc's ambition to become a more cohesive economic and security actor, even as geopolitical tensions continue to reshape Eurasia. For European observers, the SCO's growing weight—particularly its push for alternative trade routes and financial institutions—carries implications for the EU's own connectivity strategies and its relations with Central Asia. As the bloc moves closer to the trillion-dollar trade mark, the question remains whether its members can translate ambitious proposals into tangible outcomes.
