SCO Media and Think Tank Summit Opens in Bishkek

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opened its 2026 Media and Think Tank Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on July 27 and 28, 2026. Themed "The Shanghai Spirit in the New Era: From Shared Values to Practical Cooperation," the event gathered approximately 260 representatives from nearly 150 mainstream media organizations, government departments, and leading think tanks.

Participants focused on enhancing information security, combating disinformation, and fostering academic and people-to-people cooperation. Key speakers described media and think tanks as bridges for solidarity and mutual trust, with calls to establish regular dialogue mechanisms and joint research initiatives to counter cybersecurity threats.

Among the leaders presenting at the summit, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, the head of the Information Policy Service of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, spoke on the responsibility of media in safeguarding security. Xi Yanchun, vice president of Xinhua News Agency, urged media organizations to promote mutual trust, while Mederbek Shermetaliev of the Kabar News Agency advocated for structured, regular dialogue among think tanks.