The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has evolved over the past 25 years from a security focused bloc into a broader platform promoting cooperation, multipolarity, and consensus decision‑making, according to former Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Alikbek Jekshenkulov.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Jekshenkulov said Kyrgyzstan, as a founding member, has witnessed the bloc's remarkable growth firsthand.
"Over the past 25 years, the SCO has made tremendous progress. Initially, its focus was mainly on regional security. Today, the necessary mechanisms are in place, and cooperation among security agencies, special services, and diplomats has reached a very high level," said Jekshenkulov.
Built on that foundation, Jekshenkulov said that the SCO is now moving beyond traditional economic cooperation to focus increasingly on societal development and people-to-people ties.
"The SCO is now moving beyond economic cooperation to focus increasingly on cultural and humanitarian ties, the development of our societies, and the promotion of the Shanghai Spirit -- the spirit that has allowed our neighboring and brotherly peoples to live in peace and friendship for centuries," Jekshenkulov said.
With a shared vision on this human dimension, the state leaders of both China and Kyrgyzstan have prioritized, said Jekshenkulov.
"This is increasingly taking on a human dimension. Today, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov are looking not only at technical or economic issues, but also at the development of society and human capital. President Xi has described this as a community with a shared future for humanity. This is a very important trend in today's world," said Jekshenkulov.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, with several other countries holding observer or dialogue partner status..
Kyrgyzstan assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO for the fourth time earlier this year. This year's SCO summit is held in Bishkek, the country's capital.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO. Under the theme "25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity", this year's SCO Summit is expected to bring together leaders from more than 20 countries in the Kyrgyz capital.
SCO marks shift from security bloc to broader cooperation platform: Former Kyrgyz FM
China and Kyrgyzstan are broadening their cooperation and deepening their economic ties to transform a relationship traditionally built on trade and infrastructure into a future-focused partnership that embraces emerging technologies.
Bilateral trade has surged from 53 million U.S. dollars when the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992 to 27.2 billion dollars in 2025, an increase of more than 400 folds.
"The two countries signed agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the New Era. Both sides are trying to find a new model to make a breakthrough in their traditional cooperation, almost in every field," said Xu Wenhong, deputy secretary-general of the One Belt One Road Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Infrastructure and connectivity have emerged as major pillars of cooperation. New roads and border crossings are improving links between the two countries.
"In the past, transporting a truckload of goods from Kyrgyzstan to China or vise versa could take about a week. And now, it takes only one or two days to deliver the cargo," said Hou Huxiang, general manager of Kyrgyzstan Office at the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
The long-awaited China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is moving from years of planning into construction. For Kyrgyzstan, which has no direct access to the sea, experts said these expanding transport links could be transformative to give the country new routes to regional and international markets and help it move beyond the limitations of being landlocked.
"Now, Kyrgyzstan is becoming a land-linked country. Its agricultural products, mineral products, all these things can be shipped out," said Xu.
Beyond traditional sectors, China and Kyrgyzstan are exploring cooperation in the digital economy and frontier technologies, including artificial intelligence, in line with broader regional efforts to expand access to technological development.
Temir Sariyev, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, highlighted the importance of education and talent development as cooperation moves into high-tech areas.
"We need to encourage more students to study in China, as China is a global leader in science and technology, industry, artificial intelligence, and digital technology," said Sariyev.
From infrastructure and trade to agriculture and artificial intelligence, China and Kyrgyzstan are broadening cooperation across both established and emerging sectors. That growing partnership also reflects the broader spirit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to promote shared development, respect each country's own development path, and pursue practical cooperation that can create opportunities for countries across the region.
China, Kyrgyzstan expand trade, cooperation
