Beijing, June 15, 2026

Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev,
Ambassadors and Diplomats,
Dear Friends,

Today we meet to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to express sincere congratulations to the Secretary General as well as ambassadors and other diplomats from SCO countries, and also extend heartfelt appreciation to all those who have long supported the SCO.

On this day 25 years ago, the heads of state of the six founding members came together to inaugurate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, demonstrating great foresight, commitment to world peace and development, and dedication to regional harmony and the people’s well-being. The SCO’s founding opened a new chapter in contemporary international relations.

—Over the past 25 years, SCO member states, while different in ideology, social system, and development path, have maintained solidarity and cooperation, firmly supporting one another in defending our respective core interests, tackling challenges and exploring opportunities, and nurturing a lasting friendship instead of hostility.

—Over the past 25 years, SCO member states have fulfilled their moral responsibility, fighting terrorism, separatism, and extremism, fending off external interference, safeguarding international law, championing the political settlement of disputes, and shaping a more just and equitable international order.

—Over the past 25 years, SCO member states have pursued shared development through Belt and Road cooperation, building synergy between national development strategies, advancing mutually beneficial cooperation that boosts the regional economy through better connectivity, and carrying out a large number of “small and beautiful” programs that improved lives in many communities.

—Over the past 25 years, SCO member states have learned from one another through educational, cultural, tourism, health, sports, media, and subnational cooperation, advancing the development of women, children, and the youth, facilitating mutual travel, and forging stronger people-to-people ties.

—Over the past 25 years, the SCO has fostered the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development. It has evolved a new model for regional cooperation, in which neighboring countries embraced partnerships over alliances and worked together to safeguard security and stability and promote development and prosperity. And it has pioneered a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation.

Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,

Transformations of a kind not seen in a century are sweeping across the globe, resulting in a fast-changing and turbulent international landscape. Faced with the North-South divide, geopolitical conflicts, civilizational estrangement, and gaps in global governance, all countries yearn for fairness and justice, solidarity and cooperation, and peace and stability.

To this end, President Xi Jinping has put forth the four global initiatives on development, security, civilization, and governance respectively, to support the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. They are China’s answers to the key challenges of our time.

The SCO is a stabilizing, constructive and positive force that carries significant weight. There is much it can do to promote world peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit. We can and must set an example for the world.

—We should carry forward the Shanghai Spirit. Let us deepen our cooperation and make it more sustainable, straighten out various mechanisms, enhance the SCO’s cohesion, efficiency, and appeal, and get more things done.

—We should improve global governance. Let us practice true multilateralism under the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, uphold the authority and role of the United Nations, and champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

—We should safeguard peace and tranquility. Let us stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, promote peace and stability in the Middle East, help Afghanistan rebuild and develop, and secure lasting stability and better governance in our region.

—We should advance sustainable development. Let us foster more growth drivers in trade, investment, connectivity, innovation, green economy, and digital economy, move faster in creating an SCO development bank, and strengthen industrial chains, stabilize supply chains, and upgrade value chains.

—We should enhance good-neighborliness and cooperation. Let us encourage more people-to-people exchanges, intercivilizational dialogue, and friendship between our people, and jointly foster a peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable region.

Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,

Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and the leaders of other member states, last year’s Tianjin Summit charted the SCO’s course for the next decade, and ushered our Organization into a new phase of high-quality development that promises greater unity, coordination, dynamism, and effectiveness. I am confident that this year’s Bishkek Summit will build more consensus, catalyze robust actions, and rally regional countries to move together toward sustainable peace, development, and prosperity.

China has just launched its 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. The next five years will see China pursue high-quality development, new quality productive forces, and high-standard opening up. SCO cooperation has always been a high priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy. We are prepared to work with all member states to share development opportunities, realize mutually beneficial cooperation, and create a brighter future for our region.

Thank you.