The SCO Summit 2025 in Tianjin marked one of the most extensive gatherings in the organization’s history. Leaders from 10 member states and more than 20 international organizations attended the high-level meeting. During the summit, the heads of state signed several critical agreements and strategies.
Notably, the SCO Development Strategy until 2035 received unanimous approval. This strategy aims to strengthen mutual trust and friendly relations among member states. It also sets goals to overcome challenges and enhance cooperation in trade, finance, and investment. Moreover, the strategy details concrete methods for achieving these objectives.
In addition, the Tianjin Declaration reflected the member states’ positions and outcomes of the summit. Delegates also approved a series of documents on sectoral cooperation. These included the SCO Program of Cooperation on Countering Extremist Ideology for 2026-2030. Furthermore, leaders endorsed the Implementation Roadmap for Energy Cooperation Development Strategy until 2030.
The summit saw the signing of agreements to establish new regional centers. The SCO Anti-Drug Center will operate from Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Meanwhile, the SCO Universal Center for Countering Challenges and Threats to Member State Security will be headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Significantly, the SCO Summit 2025 also announced the creation of the SCO Development Bank. The bank will serve as a new gateway for financing large-scale regional projects. Additionally, the summit merged observer and dialogue partner statuses into a single SCO partner status. Laos became the first country to receive this new designation.
Leaders further adopted statements on several global issues. These covered sustainable energy, digital economy cooperation, green industry, artificial intelligence, science and innovation, and combating the global drug problem. Members also reaffirmed support for the multilateral trading system.
Finally, the Kyrgyz Republic will assume the SCO rotating presidency for 2025-2026. The next high-level summit will be held in 2026, themed “25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity.”
