Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), approaching its 25th anniversary, is entering a new stage of evolution, aiming to adapt to the changing geopolitical landscape.

The next SCO Council of Heads of State meeting will be held in Tianjin on 31 August – 1 September. The forum will review the results of China’s chairmanship, which achieved significant progress in further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation under challenging circumstances.

A comprehensive set of documents prepared for signing at the summit highlights the Organization’s focus on regional stability and security, enhanced interconnectedness, and sustainable economic development across the SCO area.

The SCO is becoming a pillar of the emerging multipolar world, offering an alternative approach to addressing international challenges based on mutual respect and cooperation. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan noted, “Today, the SCO family is the largest regional organization in the world, encompassing vast geographic space and nearly half of the global population.” He emphasized that the SCO’s appeal lies in its non-bloc status, openness, equality, and respect for internal affairs.

Uzbekistan’s new foreign policy strategy, implemented over the past eight years, is reflected in its active role within the SCO. The country has proposed numerous initiatives and recommendations that enhance its international image and align with key socio-economic development priorities, while also enriching the SCO’s existing agenda.

President Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of preventing the SCO from becoming a confrontational bloc. The main goal is to promote a peaceful agenda and use the SCO’s potential to address common global challenges.

Uzbekistan has consistently pursued progressive and comprehensive cooperation within the SCO. The country has chaired the Organization four times and contributed significantly to its development.

The first SCO summit in Tashkent in 2004 established the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and approved observer status rules.

The 2010 summit in Tashkent defined membership procedures and organizational foundations.

The 2016 summit approved the expansion of the Organization to include India and Pakistan.

Since 2017, Uzbekistan has actively participated in practical cooperation within the SCO, successfully implementing over 80 of 105 initiatives aimed at deepening political, economic, innovative, and humanitarian collaboration.

The 2022 Samarkand summit marked another milestone, adopting over 40 significant agreements, programs, and conceptual documents, including the admission of Iran as a full member and initiating Belarus’s membership process.

A key priority for Uzbekistan is strengthening Central Asia’s role as the SCO’s core. Expansion to South Asia and the Middle East has positioned the region as a natural bridge linking SCO states across Eurasia. Regional cooperation in Central Asia enhances interaction, security, and prosperity, with initiatives such as the Central Asian Regional Consolidation Process launched in 2017.

Uzbekistan’s strategy in the SCO, guided by President Mirziyoyev, emphasizes constructiveness, pragmatism, and initiative:

Constructiveness – Since 2017, Uzbekistan has actively engaged in all areas of SCO cooperation, including security, military exercises, anti-terrorism operations, and cultural-educational programs, ensuring alignment with common interests and fostering the “Shanghai spirit.”

Pragmatism – Uzbekistan’s initiatives reflect national interests and development priorities while supporting sustainable regional growth. Current proposals focus on transport, connectivity, logistics, innovation, digitalization, and cultural diplomacy.

Initiative – Uzbekistan has become one of the most proactive SCO members, introducing concrete, large-scale initiatives that enrich the Organization’s agenda. Its priorities align closely with other member states, fostering coordinated and mutually reinforcing cooperation.

Security remains a central focus. Against the backdrop of global threats, growing mistrust, and emerging conflicts, the SCO plays a key role in maintaining stability in Central Asia. At the upcoming summit in China, Uzbekistan will propose the 2026–2030 Program to Counter Extremist Ideology within the SCO, aimed at consolidating efforts against destabilizing ideological threats.

Economic cooperation is another priority, with emphasis on enhancing transport and logistics corridors, including the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, simplifying trade procedures, stimulating investment, and developing joint production chains and technological clusters.

Humanitarian cooperation is also expanding, encompassing tourism, educational exchanges, and cultural initiatives to strengthen mutual understanding and create a lasting cultural foundation for collaboration.

Experts note that the SCO’s strategic development relies on key documents such as the SCO Charter, the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, and the SCO Medium-Term Development Strategy. The Organization seeks dialogue with international bodies like the UN, EAEU, and ASEAN to address global challenges effectively.

The upcoming summit will demonstrate the SCO’s readiness to adapt in a rapidly changing and unpredictable geopolitical environment. Decisions made will further strengthen security and cooperation in Eurasia and enhance the SCO’s position on the global stage.

Bahrom Sotiboldiev
Head of the ISMI Department, Office of the President of Uzbekistan