Bishkek, September 1, 2026: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to strengthen cooperation in development, security, people-to-people exchanges and global governance, urging the regional bloc to shoulder its historical responsibilities amid growing global tensions.
Addressing the 26th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Bishkek on Tuesday, Xi said the organisation should uphold the “Shanghai Spirit” and pursue higher-quality development to contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Xi congratulated Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on the successful completion of Kyrgyzstan’s SCO chairmanship and extended greetings to the people of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversaries of their independence.
Reflecting on the SCO’s 25-year journey, Xi said the organisation had developed into a major platform for regional cooperation, covering the world’s largest area and representing the largest population among regional organisations.
He described the “Shanghai Spirit” as the SCO’s most valuable asset, based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilisations and the pursuit of common development.
“Twenty-five years later today, transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe,” Xi said, warning that rivalry between dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation and zero-sum approaches, and multilateralism and unilateralism was intensifying.
He said the shadow of war continued to haunt the world and called on the SCO to play a greater role in addressing challenges facing humanity.
Xi identified development as the SCO’s first priority and called for more inclusive economic globalisation and deeper cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, energy and resources.
He said China would expand cooperation with SCO members in emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, green industries and green mining.
China would establish an international AI application cooperation centre with SCO countries, implement 100 technological cooperation projects over the next three years and support the expansion of photovoltaic and wind power capacity by 10 million kilowatts each, he said.
Xi also announced plans to establish a China-SCO port economic cooperation centre in Tianjin to facilitate regional trade and logistics.
On security, Xi called for coordinated efforts to counter terrorism, separatism, extremism, transnational organised crime, drug trafficking and telecom fraud.
He also urged stronger cooperation in information security, biosecurity and outer-space security, while stressing the need to prevent external interference in the internal affairs of regional countries.
China, he said, was ready to work with SCO members to advance a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and make the organisation an important platform for implementing the Global Security Initiative.
Xi also supported the early opening of the SCO’s four security centres to strengthen member states’ capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
Xi emphasised cultural diversity and people-centred cooperation, calling for stronger links among legislatures, political parties, educational institutions, think tanks, businesses and media organisations.
China would host SCO forums on innovation and sustainable development, people-to-people friendship and friendship cities, while establishing a China-SCO basic education cooperation centre, he said.
He also highlighted the role of Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshops and other programmes in promoting educational exchanges and people-to-people connectivity.
On global governance, Xi called for equality among all countries regardless of size and urged regional affairs to be addressed through dialogue, consultation and multilateral cooperation.
He welcomed initiatives proposed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev aimed at promoting common security, prosperity, peace and development.
Xi said China supported institutional improvements within the SCO to make decision-making and implementation more efficient.
Addressing international hotspots, including Ukraine, the Middle East and Afghanistan, he said China was ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties and promote political settlements.
At the conclusion of his address, Xi congratulated Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan assuming the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State.
“China will join hands with all member states in giving Pakistan our strong support,” Xi said.
Pakistan will lead the SCO under its new chairmanship for 2026-27, with Islamabad expected to host the organisation’s next summit in 2027.
