Xi puts forward proposals for SCO's higher-quality development in Bishkek

Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward multiple proposals for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to shoulder its historical responsibility, steer the course for the future, achieve higher-quality development and make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity during his trip to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Xi attended the SCO Summit 2026 in the city and paid a state visit to the country from Sunday to Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, Xi attended the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and delivered a speech titled "Toward Higher-Quality Development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."

Xi raised a four-point proposal in the speech, calling for staying committed to putting development first and opening up the prospects for shared prosperity; staying committed to taking security as a key goal and fostering an environment of common security; staying committed to a people-centered approach and cementing the foundation for everlasting friendship; and staying committed to dialogue and consultation and striving for more equitable and orderly governance.

Leaders of the SCO member states also signed and issued the Bishkek Declaration marking the organization's 25th anniversary.

On Tuesday afternoon, Xi attended the SCO Plus meeting and delivered a speech titled "Jointly Advocating an Equal and Orderly Multipolar World and Making Global Governance More Just and Equitable."

Xi made three proposals in the speech, calling for advancing common prosperity in the vast continent straddling Asia and Europe with the SCO Strength, promoting the development and rise of the Global South through the SCO Wisdom, and guiding the reform and improvement of global governance through the SCO Action. On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Monday.

Xi wrapped up his attendance at the SCO Summit and state visit to Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday afternoon, with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev seeing him off at the airport.

Xi puts forward proposals for SCO's higher-quality development in Bishkek

China's Shenzhou-23 crew gave students from Hong Kong and Macao a science lesson from the Tiangong space station on Wednesday morning, with Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from Hong Kong, demonstrating the phenomenon of wringing a wet towel in space.

Hundreds of students from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) gathered at Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College in the HKSAR for the special "Tiangong Class."

The event featured interactive communication between the astronauts and students on the ground.

"Look, the water doesn't drip down. It clings to the surface of the towel. Let me squeeze harder. Now it looks like a glove. This is because in a microgravity environment, water's surface tension plays a dominant role. Water molecules hold tightly together and adhere to the surface," Lai said.

She then explained the proper way to handle a wet towel aboard the space station.

"Actually, we don't wring wet towels like this up here, because it's easy to accidentally shake off small water droplets, and collecting them would be quite troublesome. Can you guess how we deal with a wet towel in space? The correct way is to let it air-dry naturally, or seal it and dispose of it," she said.

Commander Zhu Yangzhu and astronaut Zhang Zhiyuan also took part in the event.

The three astronauts were launched aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft on May 24.

Chinese astronaut demonstrates towel-wringing in Tiangong space class