SCO Summit Brings Eastern Leaders Together in Bishkek

DID Press: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to join other major Eurasian leaders in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking the bloc’s 25th anniversary.

The summit, scheduled for August 31–September 1, will bring together leaders from the SCO’s 10 member states, including China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian republics.

Putin is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the gathering, including Xi Jinping. The Kremlin has indicated that Russia-China cooperation, including the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, will be among the issues discussed.

The SCO, which was founded in 2001, has expanded into a major regional platform for cooperation on security, trade, connectivity and economic affairs. Its 10 member states represent roughly 3.4 billion people and about one-quarter of global GDP.

However, despite its growing influence, the organization faces internal challenges, including competing interests between Russia and China in Central Asia and longstanding tensions among some member states.

The Bishkek summit comes amid major geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine, escalating pressure on Iran and growing global economic and trade disputes.