Xinhua News Agency, Bishkek, September 1

Promote the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to achieve higher quality development

——Speech at the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

(September 1, 2026, Bishkek)

President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping

Dear President Zhaparov,

Dear colleagues:

It is a great pleasure to meet all my colleagues in Bishkek.Thanks to President Zhaparov for the careful arrangements for the meeting.Since Kyrgyzstan took over the presidency, it has focused on "working together towards sustainable peace, development and prosperity", with rich and colorful activities and fruitful work, for which China speaks highly of.

August 31 and September 1 are the 35th anniversaries of independence of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan respectively.I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere congratulations to President Zhaparov, President Mirziyoyev, and to the friendly people of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan!

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.25 years ago, in the face of the profound lessons of the Cold War, the real threats of the "three evil forces", and the people of all countries' eager yearning for peace and development, it has become a general consensus among regional countries to work together to safeguard sovereignty, security, and development interests.The Shanghai Cooperation Organization came into being as a result and is increasingly showing great vitality.

Over the past 25 years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has gone through an extraordinary journey.The most significant development achievement is that it has gradually become a new regional cooperation organization with the largest territory, largest population and huge development potential in the world; the most valuable spiritual wealth is the pioneering and always following "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and seeking common development; the most important cooperation experience is to find the correct way of coexistence without alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties, and promote regional countries to join hands in building a common homeland.

Today, 25 years later, the century-old changes in the world are accelerating. Dialogue and confrontation, win-win and zero-sum, multilateral and unilateral fierce competition, the haze of war has not gone away.Standing at the crossroads concerning the future and destiny of mankind, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should bravely shoulder its historical responsibility and actively lead the course of history.

First, adhere to development priority and create prospects for common prosperity.We must advocate inclusive economic globalization, consolidate cooperation in traditional areas such as trade and investment, connectivity, and energy resources, expand cooperation in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, green industry, and green minerals, and promote regional cooperation to become deeper, more substantial, and of higher quality.

China regards the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a priority region for high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and implementation of global development initiatives. China will continue to successfully organize the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Digital Economy Forum, Agricultural Expo and other activities based on the development needs of the region, and build an international artificial intelligence application cooperation center for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries., continue to promote the construction of new "10 million kilowatt photovoltaic" and "10 million kilowatt wind power" projects with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, jointly implement 100 scientific and technological cooperation projects with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries in the next three years, and continue to cultivate China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization green industry talents.China welcomes willing member states to actively participate in the "Shared Big Market" Export to China series of activities and proactively seize opportunities in China's ultra-large market.In order to promote trade facilitation and smooth logistics in the region, China supports the improvement of quality and efficiency of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and will establish a China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Port Economic Cooperation Center in Tianjin.

Second, insist on safety as the top priority and create a generally safe environment.We must coordinate responses to traditional and non-traditional security threats, combat the "three evil forces", transnational organized crime, drug smuggling and telecommunications fraud, strengthen cooperation in information, biological and outer space security, and strictly prevent external forces from interfering in the internal affairs of various countries, endangering political security and undermining regional stability.

China is willing to work with all parties to implement a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and build the Shanghai Cooperation Organization into an important platform for implementing global security initiatives.China advocates a rational, coordinated and progressive nuclear security concept and supports the strengthening of multilateral partnerships on nuclear security.China supports the early activation of the "Four Security Centers" of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to improve the ability of member states to respond to security threats and challenges.

Third, we need to put people first and build a solid foundation for friendship from generation to generation.Diversified civilizations and multiculturalism are distinctive features of this region.We must take into account the characteristics of each country's history, culture, social system, and development stage, build a cooperative network of legislative bodies, political parties, schools, think tanks, enterprises, media, etc., promote people-to-people exchanges, and inject vitality into the good-neighborly friendship among member states.

China is willing to work with all parties to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, support non-governmental friendly institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Committee to play a greater role, and successfully host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Innovation and Sustainable Development Forum, non-governmental friendship and sister city forum.China will establish a China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Basic Education Cooperation Center and is willing to continue to build bridges for exchanges, mutual learning and people-to-people bonds through projects such as the Confucius Institute and Luban Workshop.

Fourth, insist on dialogue and consultation to improve fair and orderly governance.We must adhere to the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal, adhere to the principle of discussing regional affairs through discussion, gathering common ground and resolving differences, properly handling conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation, and responding to common challenges through multilateral cooperation.President Mirziyoyev and President Tokayev have successively proposed the Samarkand Solidarity Initiative and the Initiative of Uniting All Countries to Promote World Justice, Harmony and Development. China has expressed its appreciation and support for both.

China supports the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in carrying out exemplary cooperation in implementing global governance initiatives.This "Shanghai Cooperation Organization+" conference focuses on strengthening the role of the United Nations and building a multi-polar world, which is a successful practice.China proposes to continue to improve the operating mechanism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and enhance the efficiency of decision-making and execution.We welcome more like-minded countries to become partners and jointly participate in improving regional and global governance.On international and regional hotspot issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and Afghanistan, China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, insist on addressing both the symptoms and root causes, and promote political settlement.

Dear colleagues!

If you don’t change your original intention, you won’t slack off no matter how far you go; if you remain determined, you will reach it no matter how difficult it is.China is willing to work with all parties to continue to hold high the banner of the "Shanghai Spirit", implement the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's development strategy for the next 10 years, strive to achieve higher quality development, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind!

Finally, congratulations to Prime Minister Shahbaz for taking over as Chairman of the Council of Heads of State.China is willing to work with member states to actively support the work of Pakistan’s presidency.

Thank you everyone.