Dr. Muhammad Ali | Yichun | Jianxi | China
The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states signed 25 documents within the framework of 9 decisions at the conclusion of their meeting in Kyrgyzstan’s Cholpon-Ata on 23-24 July 2026. the ministers discussed major regional and international issues, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation within the bloc in areas including security, trade, economy, culture and humanitarian exchanges.
The officials also reviewed preparations for the upcoming SCO summit and considered measures to enhance the organization’s role and effectiveness.
The SCO foreign ministers’ meeting was held as the organization marked its 25th anniversary under the theme “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”
The discussions focused on preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States and the SCO Plus highest-level meeting, which will be held in Bishkek on August 31-September 1. The events will be dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the organisation’s founding.
The ministers approved a substantial package of documents to be submitted to the leaders for consideration. In line with established practice, the Bishkek Declaration will reflect the parties’ agreed approaches to the organisation’s development, as well as their stance on current global and regional issues.
The signing of the Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the SCO Charter, as well as the approval of regulations governing the activities of the Universal Centre for Countering Security Challenges and Threats and the Anti-Drug Centre, will be of particular importance for advancing efforts to improve the SCO’s work. The leaders will also adopt a number of thematic documents covering security, artificial intelligence, transport, energy, climate change, environmental protection, healthcare, education, support for family values, and other areas.
An in-depth discussion was held on key international and regional issues. The participants emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation within the organisation as a foundation for building an equitable, indivisible security architecture and ensuring sustainable development in Eurasia. This was discussed in the context of the SCO’s growing role in shaping a fairer multipolar world order, with the UN playing a central coordinating role. The ministers exchanged views on developments within the SCO area, as well as in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf region and around Afghanistan.
Following the meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, the sides issued a joint communique.
The Cholpon-Ata meeting was among the key events of Kyrgyzstan’s SCO presidency and highlighted the member states’ efforts to promote greater unity, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus M.V. Ryzhenkov, Minister of State for External Affairs of the Republic of India Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran A. Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan E.B. Kosherbayev, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zh.M. Kulubayev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan M.I. Dar, Permanent Member of the Security Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan S. Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan B.O. Saidov, as well as SCO Secretary-General N.B. Yermekbayev and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) U.Z. Sharsheyev.
On the eve of the ministerial meeting, the heads of foreign policy agencies of the SCO member states and permanent bodies of the Organization were received by President of the Kyrgyz Republic S. Japarov.
During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on pressing international and regional issues, as well as on the further development of the Organization.
Pakistan China Cooperation in Higher Education – by Dr. Muhammad Ali
Special attention was paid to the substantive preparation of the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states (Bishkek, September 1, 2026). The drafts of the Bishkek Declaration on the 25th Anniversary of the SCO, a number of thematic statements by the leaders, and other documents and decisions were approved as a basis.
Following the meeting, the Report of the SCO Secretary-General on the work of the Secretariat was approved, and the CMFA Statement was adopted.
SCO Secretary-General N. Yermekbayev and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Zh. Kulubayev held a joint press conference.
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev opened the session, saying it serves as the final stage of preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting.
“The agenda covers a broad range of pressing issues. We are to review and approve draft documents that will be submitted for consideration by the heads of our states,” he said.
Kulubayev later told reporters that the summit’s principal political document will be the Bishkek 25th Anniversary Declaration, setting out member states’ shared vision for cooperation and coordinated positions on regional and global issues.
Meeting with President Sadyr Japarov
Meanwhile, President Sadyr Japarov met with the foreign ministers of SCO member countries to discuss strengthening regional cooperation.
The talks focused on expanding trade and economic ties, developing transport corridors, advancing joint investment projects, and preparing for the upcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek.
The bloc’s 10 member states – China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus – will convene for the heads of state summit in Bishkek on 31 August to 1 September.
Japarov also stressed the need for closer cooperation in addressing modern security challenges, including terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and transnational crime.
He called for accelerating the establishment of a Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats in Bishkek, based on the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, to strengthen the organization’s collective response to emerging security risks.
