The SCO Bishkek Declaration

The Summit

• Host: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• Chair: President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic
• Theme (2026): “25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity”
• Presidency handover: to Pakistan for the 2026-2027 tenure

Key Outcomes of the SCO Declaration

• No double standards on terrorism: Condemned terrorism in all forms; called for action against cross-border terrorism, safe havens and terror financing.
• No extremist proxies: Rejected the use of terrorist/separatist groups for strategic purposes and stressed state responsibility.
• Iran strikes condemned: Opposed unilateral military strikes on Iran and called for diplomacy.
• SCO is not a military bloc: Reaffirmed sovereignty, non-interference and that SCO is not directed against any country.
• Energy & food security: Warned that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could threaten global energy and food security.
• Financial cooperation: Supported national-currency trade, alternative payment systems and discussions on an SCO Development Bank.
• Connectivity: Supported CKU Railway and INSTC, while stressing sovereignty and territorial integrity—important for India’s position on BRI/CPEC.
• Youth & innovation: Institutionalised the SCO Young Scientists Forum and Start-up Forum.

Important Facts for Exams

• 26th SCO Council of Heads of State summit, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• Chair: President Sadyr Japarov; presidency to Pakistan for 2026-27
• Theme: “25 Years of the SCO”
• 10 member states; SCO founded 2001 in Shanghai from the Shanghai Five
• Secretariat at Beijing; RATS at Tashkent
• India and Pakistan joined 2017; Iran 2023; Belarus 2024
• INSTC — International North-South Transport Corridor, linking India to Russia via Iran
• CKU — China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway
• The Declaration explicitly states the SCO is not a military-political alliance