- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday to take part in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of member countries.
- The summit in Bishkek, to be held from August 31 to September 1, comes ahead of what is expected to be a busy September for Xi.
- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his wife welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Manas International Airport.
- The meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State is scheduled for September 1 in Bishkek, according to the SCO Secretariat.
- On June 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian highlighted SCO's 25 years of development and cooperation.
- Last year, the Tianjin Summit approved the SCO Development Strategy for 2026-2035 and decided to establish an SCO development bank.
- On Tuesday, Doval and Wang held the 25th meeting of the Special Representatives mechanism on the border issue in Beijing, reaching an eight-point consensus.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which runs from August 31 to September 1. This summit is significant as it includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from member states including Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and China.124
Upon arrival, Xi expressed his eagerness to collaborate with all parties to reflect on the 25-year development experience of the SCO and to discuss future cooperation plans. He stated, "I look forward to attending the SCO Bishkek Summit, working with all parties to revisit the 25-year development experience of the SCO, jointly discuss cooperation plans, create the future of the organisation."
The SCO has evolved into a comprehensive regional cooperation organization, enhancing political, security, economic, and cultural exchanges among its members. China has been a key player in this development, being Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner with trade reaching $11.7 billion in the first seven months of 2026. Additionally, China's direct investment in Kyrgyzstan has surpassed $2 billion, focusing on infrastructure, energy, and green development projects.
Experts believe this summit could mark a pivotal moment in the SCO's transition towards a more practical cooperation framework, emphasizing security, economy, and connectivity. Kubat Rakhimov noted, "For a quarter-century, the idea of a multilateral financial institution had been discussed, but it was China's leadership and commitment that broke the deadlock."
The meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State is scheduled for September 1, with expectations for significant discussions on regional cooperation and development.
“The SCO summit marks the organization's 25th anniversary, with leaders expected to assess the implementation of the 2026-2035 development strategy approved at last year's Tianjin Summit. China remains Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $11.7 billion in the first seven months of 2026.”
