Tianjin (TDI): The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded its 25th summit in Tianjin on Monday with the signing of 20 major documents.
The agreements cover a wide range of areas, from energy and digital cooperation to countering extremist ideology and expanding international partnerships.
Among the most notable outcomes was the Tianjin Declaration, along with a new Development Strategy of the SCO until 2035. Member states also adopted a 2026–2030 program to counter extremist ideology across the SCO region, a roadmap for energy cooperation through 2030, a resolution granting Laos dialogue partner status with the SCO, a decision granting the SCO observer status in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the designation of Cholpon Ata in Kyrgyzstan as the SCO’s tourist and cultural capital for 2025–2026.
The leaders also authorized the SCO Secretary-General to sign new cooperation agreements, including a protocol with China on the SCO Secretariat’s presence in Beijing and a memorandum of understanding with the Roscongress Foundation.
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Security cooperation featured prominently, with agreements to establish both an Anti-Drug Centre and a Universal Centre for Countering Security Challenges and Threats. Reports from the SCO Secretary-General and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) reviewing activities in 2024 were also approved.
The summit concluded with a series of joint statements addressing, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the UN, strengthening cooperation in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and scientific innovation, advancing sustainable energy development and green industry initiatives, supporting the multilateral trading system, combating the global drug problem, and enhancing investment cooperation in sustainable development sectors.
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These wide-ranging commitments reflect the SCO’s ambition to deepen regional cooperation and expand its international role. Separately, Kazakhstan has proposed the creation of a new SCO Water Research Center to strengthen collaboration on water security and resource management.
