SCO Summit 2026: The 26th summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has started in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Top leaders of member countries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are gathering in this important meeting organized on the occasion of completion of 25 years of the organization’s establishment. PM Modi arrived in Bishkek on Sunday, where he was warmly welcomed by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Kasimaliev Adilbek Aleshovich at the airport. During this, Kyrgyz traditional dance was also presented to welcome him.
PM Modi’s vision and bilateral meetings. SCO Summit 2026
Before leaving for Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that he is keen to take forward India’s vision for the SCO region. His vision is mainly based on three pillars ‘Security, Connectivity and Opportunity’. The PM stressed that India will work with member countries to build a region that is completely free from the evils of ‘terrorism, separatism and extremism’.
During the summit, PM Modi is expected to have important bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadir Zhaparov and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Apart from this, the Prime Minister will also participate in the grand opening ceremony of the sixth ‘World Nomad Games’.
Xi Jinping said- ‘Eager to chart the course for the future’
Chinese President Xi Jinping has also reached Bishkek on Sunday to participate in the conference. According to Chinese media, upon reaching there, Xi Jinping said that he was very excited to review the 25 years of development experiences of the SCO, talk about new plans for cooperation and outline the future of the organization.
25 years of journey and outline of Bishkek meeting
SCO, which was started in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, now has 10 members. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017, Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
- theme: This time the theme of the summit has been kept as ’25 years of SCO: Together towards sustainable peace, development and prosperity’.
- Venue: The main meetings are being held from August 30 to September 1 at the Ala-Archa State Residence outside Bishkek. The Plenary Session of the Council of Heads of State will be held on September 1, in which the ‘Bishkek Declaration’ will be finalised.
Diplomatic and economic importance for India
For India, this summit is a major means to connect directly with Central Asia through energy, trade and transport corridors. The agenda of the conference includes discussions on the Eurasian Logistics Corridor, digital transformation, the proposed SCO Development Bank and trade agreements. Apart from this, talks can also move forward with Russia on defence, energy and local currency payment system at bilateral level.
At the conclusion of the summit, Kyrgyzstan will hand over the rotating presidency of the SCO to Pakistan, which will lead the organization until 2027 and host the next Leaders’ Summit.