At a pivotal meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to prioritize development and security while enhancing dialogue and cooperation across the region. Addressing the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO on September 1, Xi emphasized the necessity of fostering shared prosperity and crafting a more secure regional environment. He called on organization members to back more equitable global governance and to resist unilateralism and confrontation.
Xi pointed to the SCO’s achievements over its 25-year history, underscoring its foundational principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, and respect for diverse civilizations. He advocated for bolstered cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, energy, and resources. Additionally, Xi highlighted the importance of expanding collaborations in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and green industries.
On the security front, Xi encouraged SCO members to unify their efforts against both traditional and nontraditional threats to enhance regional stability. He expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with other member states to promote a comprehensive, common, and sustainable approach to security.
The summit in Bishkek concluded with SCO leaders endorsing the organization’s development trajectory over the past quarter-century. They emphasized the need for increased cooperation to safeguard regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Furthermore, the summit witnessed the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration along with several agreements focusing on security, economic, cultural, and organizational collaboration.