The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should expand its role in global security and technology cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged during a summit held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday. Speaking at the event marking the bloc’s 25th anniversary, Xi highlighted the SCO’s evolution into a major Eurasian cooperation platform with significant development potential.
Xi praised the organization’s growth without forming military alliances or engaging in confrontation, an apparent reference to Western security arrangements. He emphasized the need for the SCO to prioritize security and maintain regional stability by resisting external interference in member states’ internal affairs. The Chinese leader called on the grouping to advance collaboration in trade, connectivity, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy, announcing plans to establish a “China-SCO Port Economic Cooperation Centre” in Tianjin. He also pledged that China would undertake 100 joint scientific and technological projects with SCO members over the next three years.
Against a backdrop of ongoing global tensions and a “world at a crossroads,” Xi stressed the importance of multilateralism over unilateralism and cooperation over competition. He urged the SCO to take responsibility in shaping the future international order, advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and rules for all countries regardless of their size or wealth. Xi also encouraged major powers within the bloc to lead by adhering to international law and working together to address global challenges.
The summit brought together leaders from SCO member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This marks the first occasion in several months that the leaders of China, Russia, and Iran have met face to face since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian sites in February.
In a bilateral meeting on Monday, Xi and Putin pledged to enhance SCO cooperation. During the summit, Putin described the SCO as an increasingly influential multipolar world platform and called for the elimination of provocations by state actors. Iranian President Pezeshkian underscored the importance of sovereignty and condemned recent attacks on Iran as violations of international law, according to Iranian media reports.
The summit included participation from Iranian and Russian foreign ministers alongside their counterparts from other member states, occurring shortly after renewed U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets. China and Russia maintain strategic partnerships with Iran, making their responses closely watched by the international community.
Founded in 2001 by six countries—China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—the SCO initially focused on combating terrorism in Central Asia. Since then, it has expanded to 10 full members and developed into a broader security and economic cooperation platform that positions itself as an alternative to Western-dominated institutions.