Xi calls for stronger SCO cooperation at Bishkek summit

Summary

President Xi Jinping attended the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the SCO Plus meeting in Bishkek on 1 September, delivering a speech that marked the organisation's 25th anniversary. Xi said that over the past quarter-century, the SCO has grown into a regional cooperation body with the largest footprint, the biggest population and vast development potential, with the Shanghai Spirit as its most valued asset. He underscored the need to prioritise development, safeguard security, put people first, and pursue dialogue and consultation.

The speech drew praise from Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan's information minister, who said it reflected a major country leader's broad vision. Russian expert Sanakoev noted that the SCO opens fresh development opportunities for Global South nations. Xi also announced the creation of a China-SCO Basic Education Cooperation Centre and reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering people-to-people ties through Confucius Institutes and Luban Workshops.

International observers say the initiatives offer important intellectual direction for tackling global governance challenges.

Commentary

As the SCO marks its 25th anniversary, it is shifting towards deeper integration of industrial chains, singling out green minerals and the digital economy as priority areas for collaboration. Although New Zealand is not a member, its exports overlap substantially with the bloc's market dynamics. Russia, Kazakhstan and other SCO states rank among the world's leading suppliers of agricultural commodities and minerals, so greater internal tariff alignment and upgraded infrastructure could erode the price competitiveness of New Zealand dairy and meat across Asian markets.

But the SCO's green-mineral certification and digital-trade frameworks are still works in progress. This opens a window for New Zealand agritech and renewable-energy service providers, who could use services-trade arrangements under the upgraded NZ-China FTA to support mining decarbonisation and digitalisation projects in Central and South Asia. Rather than chasing vague notions of opportunity, businesses should closely monitor SCO members' negotiations on mutual recognition of green certification and cross-border data flows, and assess whether their supply chains can be extended through Chinese hubs into inland Eurasia.

Keywords: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Xi Jinping, Bishkek, Shanghai Spirit, global governance, 25th anniversary, basic education, international response

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

9月1日，习近平主席在比什凯克出席上海合作组织成员国元首理事会第二十六次会议及“上海合作组织+”会议并发表重要讲话。今年是上合组织成立25周年，习近平指出，25年来上合组织成为世界上幅员最广、人口最多、发展潜力巨大的新型区域合作组织；最宝贵的精神财富是“上海精神”。习近平强调坚持发展优先、安全为要、以人为本、对话协商。

巴基斯坦新闻与广播部部长塔拉尔表示，讲话展现出大国领导人的宽广视野；俄罗斯专家萨纳科耶夫称，上合组织为全球南方国家开辟新的发展空间。习近平宣布中方将成立中国—上海合作组织基础教育合作中心，并愿继续通过孔子学院、鲁班工坊等项目搭建民心相通的桥梁。国际人士认为，系列倡议为解决全球治理难题提供关键思想引领。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

上海合作组织在成立25周年之际强调产业链深度融合，并将绿色矿产、数字经济列为优先合作领域。新西兰虽非成员，但其出口结构与之重叠度高：俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦等上合成员是全球重要农产品和矿产供应方，内部关税协调与基建升级或削弱新西兰乳制品、肉类在亚洲市场的价格竞争力。不过，上合推动的绿色矿产认证和数字贸易规则尚未定型，NZ的农业科技与可再生能源服务商可借助中新FTA升级后的服务贸易安排，切入中亚及南亚的矿业减排和数字化项目。

相较于泛泛的“机遇”，企业应具体跟踪上合国家对绿色认证互认和跨境数据流动的谈判进展，评估自身供应链能否经中国节点向欧亚内陆延伸。

关键词: 上海合作组织, 习近平, 比什凯克, 上海精神, 全球治理, 25周年, 基础教育合作中心, 国际反响

Source: Global Times