SCO Vision Report Upholds Fairness, Calls for Improved Global Governance

Summary

A think tank report released by Xinhua National High-end Think Tank in Bishkek on 27th said the SCO has grown from six founding members to the world's largest regional organisation by area and population in 25 years. The 2025 Tianjin Summit, attended by more than 20 foreign leaders and 10 heads of international organisations, approved the SCO Development Strategy for the Next 10 Years (2026-2035),

decided to establish the SCO Development Bank, and issued five statements and six action plans covering energy, digital economy,

science and technology innovation. The report noted that the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has entered the critical phase of construction and the China-Russia railway bridge has been completed, emphasising the SCO's commitment to fairness and justice in promoting a more just and equitable global governance system.

Commentary

The Tianjin summit adopted a 10-year development strategy and established the SCO Development Bank. Six action plans cover digital economy, energy, and technology, accelerating Eurasian regional integration. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand, the direct impact is limited, but cross-border infrastructure like the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is reshaping trade routes.

Transit time from China to Central Asia and Eastern Europe could be reduced by 30-40 percent. New Zealand's fresh goods like dairy and fruit, if transiting via China's land routes, can benefit from cold-chain intermodal transport to lower wastage and inventory costs, reaching Central Asia's emerging consumer markets. Another angle is digital trade rules: the SCO is promoting mutual recognition of AI and data, potentially creating regional standards.

New Zealand's small tech firms participating in China's digital ecosystem should monitor compliance requirements for service access and be wary of technology barriers arising from regional preferential procurement. New Zealand already enjoys zero tariffs on dairy and meat products under the upgraded free trade agreement with China. If combined with a more efficient Eurasia logistics network, exporters can gradually include Central Asia in their market diversification plans.

However, they need to monitor the geopolitical policies of transit countries and the actual reach of the development bank's projects.

Keywords: SCO, Shanghai Spirit, fairness and justice, global governance, think tank report, community with a shared future, Tianjin Summit, development bank, development strategy, 25th anniversary

Source: Xinhua Net