The two-day summit commenced on Monday, prioritizing political, economic, and security collaborations, the establishment of a long-promised development bank, connectivity, and energy and trade routes impacted by ongoing wars and conflicts, alongside addressing the defining challenges of the Global South.
The SCO’s ten member states—comprising China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan—represent over 40% of the global population.
The bloc increasingly positions itself as an alternative to a Western-led order, bolstered by at least 15 states joining as “dialogue partners.” These partners span Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Marking its 25th anniversary, the bloc was originally established to address regional security following the Soviet Union’s collapse but has since evolved into a formidable force for multi-layered trade, security, and political cooperation.
The summit’s theme—”25 years of the SCO: together for sustainable peace, development and prosperity”—resonates powerfully as 21 leaders convene to formulate solutions, build influence, and potentially forge new alliances in a rapidly shifting global landscape.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, alongside other heads of state and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, arrived in Bishkek on Monday for bilateral meetings and the opening of the World Nomad Games, a traditional Central Asian sports and culture event.
The SCO identified Russia’s war in Ukraine, the conflict involving Iran and its far-reaching global economic consequences, along with the push by major and middle powers for wider global influence, as primary topics. Meanwhile, host nation Kyrgyzstan aims to advance the establishment of an SCO Development Fund and an Investment Fund for major projects.
Developing economic connectivity, including new energy and transport corridors, remains a key objective as the conflict involving Iran reshapes global transit and supply chains.
‘Golden Era’ of Bilateral Ties
Summit host Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov welcomed his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, upon his arrival in Bishkek. The two leaders signed a treaty on “eternal good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation,” which the Kyrgyz presidency described as a comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.
Xi characterized the China-Kyrgyzstan relations as a “golden period” of development.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov also engaged in numerous bilateral discussions on Monday with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
As the US and the EU actively expand their presence in Central Asia, China is simultaneously accelerating economic engagement across the region. Major transport and infrastructure projects are underway to connect China and the West through Central Asia, notably the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is expected to significantly shorten transit routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Southern Europe.
With industrial cooperation and transport connectivity serving as major priorities for Tashkent, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Bishkek to promote the Trans-Afghan Corridor, which links Central Asia’s rapidly developing infrastructure projects to Afghanistan and Indian Ocean ports.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a new round of peace talks in Bishkek on Monday to discuss the next steps in their historic peace process.
The two leaders also discussed new trade and energy cooperation, alongside key Middle Corridor projects via the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also met his Azerbaijani counterpart to discuss trade and investments through joint regional projects.
Putin also arrived in Bishkek on Monday to assert his influence on the regional summit and is scheduled to meet Xi amid Moscow’s faltering economy.
The Russian president is scheduled to meet Erdoğan to discuss the war in Ukraine, Black Sea security, and Iran’s Pezeshkian, given Moscow’s strong support for Iran during its military confrontation with the United States and Israel.
Putin is also expected to meet Pashinyan following Moscow’s warnings against Yerevan’s newly announced intention to apply for EU membership.
