Xi Jinping Highlights SCO's Commitment to Development and Global Governance
BEIJING, Sept. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marked a significant milestone in the organization’s 25-year history. President Xi Jinping’s address highlighted the importance of prioritizing development and promoting global governance that is more just and equitable. The summit, which carried forward the "Shanghai Spirit," aimed to implement the outcomes of the Tianjin summit and drive the SCO towards high-quality development in the new era.
At the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the "SCO Plus" meeting, Xi Jinping underscored the importance of development, security, and people-centered approaches. He proposed that the SCO should remain committed to these principles to foster shared prosperity and common security. Specifically, Xi called for an emphasis on development, noting that the organization should open up new prospects for shared prosperity. He also stressed the importance of security, advocating for a people-centered approach and promoting dialogue and consultation to achieve more equitable and orderly governance.
To bolster these proposals, Xi pledged concrete actions. China is positioning the SCO region as a key area for the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road and the implementation of the Global Development Initiative. Xi expressed readiness to help build the SCO into an important platform for the Global Security Initiative and to collaborate with all SCO parties in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative. Furthermore, China supports the SCO’s efforts to pursue exemplary cooperation as part of the Global Governance Initiative.
During the "SCO Plus" meeting, Xi addressed broader challenges facing the international order and the SCO’s global responsibilities. He emphasized the importance of promoting common values of humanity, rejecting double standards, and foreign interference. Xi called for the SCO members to work together to advance a more just and equitable system of global governance, particularly for the benefit of Global South countries. He highlighted the SCO’s role in promoting common prosperity across the vast continent straddling Asia and Europe, fostering the development and rise of the Global South, and guiding the reform and improvement of global governance.
Overall, Xi’s speeches during the two meetings set the direction for the SCO’s high-quality development and its broader role in global engagement. By staying true to its founding principles and adopting a people-centered and action-oriented approach, the SCO can enhance its capacity to respond to the needs of the times. This, in turn, can contribute to an equal and orderly multipolar world, more just and equitable global governance, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.