Shanghai Cooperation Organization Marks 25 Years of Eurasian Expansion

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization celebrated its 25th anniversary in June 2026, evolving from a six-state regional format established in 2001 into a 10-member community. The organization now includes India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus alongside founding members China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It currently represents a combined economic aggregate of approximately 30 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 25 percent of global GDP.

Operating under the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust and noninterference, the organization avoids forming a military alliance or exclusive economic bloc. Recent efforts have focused on integrating the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with other regional projects. During a September 2025 meeting, President Xi Jinping urged member states to oppose hegemonism and power politics to promote international fairness and justice.

Under the current presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic, the organization is preparing for a summit in Bishkek centered on sustainable peace, development, and prosperity. Institutional growth includes the 2025 decision to create the SCO Development Bank and the establishment of specialized security bodies, including an Anti-Drug Center in Dushanbe and a Universal Center for Countering Challenges and Threats in Tashkent.