26th SCO Summit Opens in Bishkek as Regional Leaders Gather

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation gathered at Bishkek’s Yrys Ordo Congress Hall for the group photograph and an opening round-table discussion at its 26th summit.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who is hosting the meeting and serving as the organisation’s chairman, led the discussion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen briefly speaking with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the official gathering.

The summit brings together Kyrgyzstan, India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Also attending are Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

The organisation says its agenda includes strengthening trust and good-neighbourly relations, supporting regional peace and stability, addressing new challenges and threats, and expanding cooperation in areas including economic and social development. The 10 member states together represent about 25 percent of global GDP, according to the report.

India has been a full SCO member since 2017. Modi is participating in the summit, which marks the organisation’s 25th anniversary, and is due to speak about India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity.

The meeting is also taking place in an expanded SCO Plus format. Leaders attending that format include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé.