26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Why in News?
The 26th SCO Summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 31 August–1 September 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (founded 2001).
Summit Logistics & Leadership
- Host & Chair: Hosted at the Yrys Ordo Congress Hall in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, chaired by President Sadyr Japarov.
- Participants: Brought together the 10 full member states—India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus—alongside 15 partner countries and 2 observer nations.
- Cultural Coincidence: The summit overlapped with the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games in Bishkek.
Key Resolutions & Frameworks
- Bishkek Declaration: Signed by all heads of state to reform global governance, ensure equal decision-making, and consolidate the bloc's vision.
- Long-Term Planning: Adopted the SCO Development Strategy until 2035 to streamline collective contributions.
- Security & Trade Action Plans: Approved the Economic Development Strategy Action Plan until 2030, the Energy Cooperation Strategy until 2030, and a three-year cooperation program (2025-2027) to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
Major Agreements & Strategic Focus Areas
- De-dollarisation Efforts: Members resolved to increase the share of national currencies in mutual financial settlements and transactions.
- Anti-Drug Strategies: Signed a new five-year Anti-Drug Strategy alongside an MoU between the SCO Secretariat and the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Center.
- Infrastructure & Environment: Prioritised transport infrastructure—such as the proposed China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway—and adopted pacts regarding nuclear safety, climate change, and eco-tourism.
- Key documents: Bishkek Declaration + 4 MoUs + 20+ decisions/statements (27+ documents in all).
India’s Key Contributions and Stance
- The Three Pillars: Prime Minister Modi addressed the summit, emphasising that the SCO's future must focus on Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity.
- Cultural Initiatives: India led the push for several distinct inclusions in the Bishkek Declaration, notably adopting English as an official language in the SCO Charter.
- Civilisational Forums: India announced it will host the first-ever SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later this year, alongside establishing a Young Scientist Forum and a Young Author's Conclave.
- Bilateral Engagements: On the sidelines, India conducted high-level bilateral talks with leaders from Russia, China, Iran, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
