SCO Leaders Sign Bishkek Declaration and Transfer Chair to Pakistan

Leaders from ten member states gathered in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from August 31 to September 1, 2026, for the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State. Chaired by Sadyr Japarov, the summit marked the organization's 25th anniversary and concluded with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration and 27 strategic documents. The bloc emphasized a shift toward a multipolar world order, condemned unilateral sanctions, and specifically denounced military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping used the forum to present a united front against Western influence. Putin held bilateral talks with Xi to discuss the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline and a permanent visa-free regime, while Xi proposed a four-point plan focusing on development, security, and equitable global governance. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated for the end of the war in Ukraine and urged the dismantling of terrorist ecosystems, warning that terrorism can never be a "strategic asset" for any state.

Institutional outcomes included the establishment of a Universal Center for Countering Challenges and Threats to the Security of SCO Member States and the adoption of a protocol granting official status to the English language. The summit also addressed economic connectivity, including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the proposed SCO Development Bank.

At the conclusion of the event, Kyrgyzstan transferred the SCO chairmanship to Pakistan for the 2026-2027 term. Pakistan will host the next heads of state summit in 2027, and Lahore has been designated as the SCO tourism and cultural capital for the coming year.