Meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council

Photo: Kremlin.ru

The event was held at the Yrys Ordo Congress Hall in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kremlin informs.

Before the meeting, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov hosted an official welcoming ceremony for the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, followed by a photo op.

The Russian delegation at the meeting comprises Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office – Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Yury Ushakov, and Special Presidential Representative for SCO Affairs, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyer Khakimov.

In conclusion of the meeting, the leaders signed and adopted the final documents, including the Bishkek Declaration, decisions of the SCO Heads of State Council on joint initiatives on combatting drug addiction and on countering the spread of synthetic drugs and their precursors for the period until 2030; initiatives for the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity and a joint action plan for their implementation for 2026–2031; as well as scientific and technological cooperation programmes for creating the SCO Green Technology Corridor for 2026–2030.

Some of the adopted decisions concern the regulations on the SCO Universal Centre for Countering Security Challenges and Threats and the Executive Committee of the SCO Anti-Drug Centre, as well as an action plan for the development of ports and logistics centres of the SCO members states for 2026–2030 and a Concept for Establishing Regional Data Centres and Computing Capacities and Developing the Artificial Intelligence Industry.

The SCO leaders also adopted decisions on declaring the city of Lahore (Pakistan) as the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026–2027, and on signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the African Union Commission.

The following documents were adopted without signing: the Declaration of the SCO Heads of State Council on Strengthening Multilateral Partnership for Nuclear and Physical Nuclear Security, statements of the SCO Heads of State Council on expanding interaction in energy conservation and energy efficiency, energy systems, on supporting and strengthening the institution of the family, and on assistance to states affected by disasters.

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Speech by the President of Russia at the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Japarov, friends,

First of all, I would like to support what my colleagues said when they praised Kyrgyzstan for its efforts as chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and rightly noted the SCO’s achievements reached over 25 years since its inception.

The SCO has covered a really long path during these 25 years. I would like to remind you that the organisation, which was established in 2001 at the initiative of six states – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – has grown to become stronger, turning into an independent and influential centres of the emerging multipolar world.

As you know, its membership has grown considerably. India and Pakistan joined the SCO in 2017, Iran did the same in 2023 and Belarus in 2024. Observer states – Afghanistan and Mongolia – and 15 dialogue partners have been proactively contributing to SCO’s activities.

The SCO has de facto become the largest regional association not only on our shared Eurasian continent but in the world as a whole. Nearly half of the global population lives in its countries, which account for over one-third of global GDP.

The SCO possesses powerful intellectual and technological potential and a substantial share of the world’s natural resources. The key transcontinental, transport and logistics routes run through the SCO space.

SCO countries have been proactive in their political, economic and humanitarian cooperation, and this interaction helps ensure steady and sustainable development for each of our states, and helps promote peace, stability, trust and cooperation throughout our Eurasian continent.

I am convinced that a substantial package of decisions, drafted for approval by leaders following the current meeting, will provide a new impetus to our partnership within the SCO.

Russia shares the coordinated approaches to key issues of the global and regional agenda that are reflected in the main document of the summit – the Bishkek Declaration.

We support efforts to improve the activities of the Organisation and to make its working mechanisms more effective. For example, this is stipulated by a draft protocol on amending the fundamental SCO Charter. Its approval will make it possible to launch the Universal Centre for Countering Challenges and Threats to the Security of the SCO Member States, established last year in Tashkent, and the SCO Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe.

Additionally, all current observer states and dialogue partners will receive the newly-introduced SCO partner status. This decision will help streamline and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the SCO and countries and international organisations which are interested in this cooperation.

I would like to single out some key practical objectives facing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, including efforts to further strengthen commercial ties between member states. This gives all of us obvious dividends, facilitates sustained socio-economic growth and helps improve people’s living standards.

Reciprocal trade and investment exchanges continue to expand each year. For example, Russia’s trade with the SCO member states exceeded US$400 billion last year. Our states use national currencies in mutual settlements more actively. Their share exceeds 98 percent in Russia’s operations with the Organisation’s members.

The SCO Business Council and the SCO Interbank Consortium make a major contribution to implementing joint mutually beneficial economic projects. The Development Bank, being established within the framework of our Organisation, could take part in this work in the future. In my opinion, this bank should receive maximum independence from the financial systems of the states which weaponize economic tools in order to obtain unilateral advantages in international affairs.

I believe it is in our common interests to continue the coordinated and balanced energy policy, as envisaged by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Strategy for Energy Cooperation until 2030.

There are also promising prospects for cooperation in the high-tech sector. The adoption of the Memorandum on Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and the Action Plan for the Introduction of Green Technologies will be an important step in this regard.

It is most gratifying to observe the dynamic and substantive nature of cultural and humanitarian interaction within the SCO. Our countries are strengthening ties in education, healthcare, environmental protection, scientific and youth exchanges. SCO University, which unites more than 100 institutions of higher education of our member states, is operating successfully. Women’s forums dedicated to enhancing the role of women in public, political, business and social life are held under the Organisation’s auspices.

Yesterday, we attended the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, which are currently taking place in the Kyrgyz Republic and in which representatives of many SCO member states, including Russia, are participating. Our country stands ready to host the next games in 2028 in Kazan, Russia. We will be pleased to welcome teams from all interested states.

In accordance with a good tradition, we also look forward to receiving cultural figures and artists from SCO countries at the International United Cultures Forum, which will be held in our country, in St Petersburg, at the end of September.

In conclusion, I would like to once again express my gratitude to President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov and to all our Kyrgyz friends for their hospitality, warm welcome, and excellent organisation of this summit.

I am confident that our joint work in Bishkek will facilitate the development of multifaceted cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, in the interests of strengthening security, peaceful development, and prosperity across Eurasia.

Friends, in this connection I would like to remind you that today is September 1 – the day on which the Second World War began. We must do everything in our power to prevent a return to the global practice of instigating armed conflicts. I am convinced that our efforts are directed precisely towards this objective. Naturally, I wish every success to Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and to our Pakistani colleagues, who will assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation following this summit.

Thank you.

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