Officials and experts from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have expressed high expectations for the organization's upcoming summit in northeastern China, emphasizing its growing global influence and increasing significance amid the current international landscape.
The SCO summit is set to take place in the Chinese port city of Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sep 1. Primarily formed to address security concerns, the SCO has, over its 24-year development, grown into a comprehensive regional organization representing nearly half of the world's population.
"I believe the upcoming SCO Tianjin Summit will mark an important moment in the history of the SCO. Over the years since its establishment, the SCO has achieved numerous accomplishments. It is now at a critical stage of promoting the 'Shanghai Spirit.' We are confident that this SCO Summit will be a grand event with global influence and great historical significance," said Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the Chinese-Russian Friendship, Peace, and Development Committee.
"2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the SCO's founding. Therefore, this year's summit holds milestone significance. It will not only review the achievements made since the last summit, but also chart a blueprint for the future development of the SCO," said Bolat Nurgaliyev, chairman of the Board of the Foreign Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
Echoing this optimism, Soyuzbek Nadyrov, first deputy minister of culture, information and youth policy of Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the remarkable progress the SCO has made since its inception.
He also expressed the hope that the upcoming summit will propel the organization into a new phase of development, guided by the Shanghai Spirit -- mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development.
"The essence of the 'Shanghai Spirit' is equality. Regardless of a country's population size or economic scale, every member receives equal treatment. I believe that the inclusiveness and equality embodied by the SCO are among the key factors behind its sustained growth and development," said Nadyrov.
Rustam Ganizoda, executive director of Moscow State University's Dushanbe branch in Tajikistan, highly commended China's role in promoting the SCO's development.
"During its tenure as the SCO's rotating chair from 2024 to 2025, China has strongly promoted mutual understanding, trust, friendship, and cooperation among member states, further enhancing the SCO's international influence. China's efforts hold special significance for the entire SCO family. In the current complex and turbulent international situation, holding the SCO Summit in China this time will make a special contribution to maintaining regional and global peace and stability, promoting sustainable development, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges within the broad SCO framework," said Ganizoda.
This year's SCO Summit will convene leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations, marking the largest gathering in the organization's history and underscoring its growing global influence and deepening cooperative agenda.
Experts from SCO countries tout "milestone significance" of Tianjin Summit
