We, the leaders of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the SCO or the Organization), gathered at the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO, reaffirm our firm commitment to the goals and principles enshrined in the SCO Charter, as well as to the further strengthening of good-neighborliness, friendship and effective multidisciplinary cooperation, and declare:
Since its founding, the Organization has successfully passed the historical stage of institutional and conceptual development and has established itself as a generally recognized and dynamically developing multilateral association, whose role in international and regional processes is steadily increasing .
Over the past quarter century, a solid legal foundation for the SCO’s activities and effective mechanisms for interaction have been established, and strategic directions for its further evolution have been defined.
Member States highly appreciate the Organization’s achievements in ensuring regional security and stability, countering challenges and threats in the region, economic, social and humanitarian development, and strengthening humanitarian, cultural, sports, scientific and educational ties.
Member States will continue their efforts to further consolidate the SCO in fulfilling the tasks and achieving the goals defined in the SCO Development Strategy until 2035.
Member states emphasize that the SCO is not a military-political bloc and is not directed against other states or international organizations. The SCO operates on the basis of openness, non-interference, equality, and mutual respect.
They welcome cooperation with interested states, international organizations, and multilateral associations whose activities are not directed against the interests of the SCO and its member states. Cooperation in the “SCO Plus” format facilitates the formation of a broad, inclusive global partnership.
The Member States particularly note the importance of further strengthening the SCO’s dialogue with the UN and its specialized structures in the interests of peace, sustainable development, and humanitarian cooperation.
Member States emphasize the importance of the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of common development, which embody the “Shanghai Spirit.”
I
Member States note that the world has entered an era of profound geopolitical, socioeconomic, and technological change. The international situation remains challenging, driven by ongoing conflicts, energy and food security challenges, global market instability, and climate change .
Member States reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the universal norms and principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter and emphasize the need to strengthen its role as a guarantor of international peace and security, sustainable development, and the construction of a representative, democratic, and equitable multipolar world order. They make an increasing contribution to the common efforts to qualitatively improve the global order.
Member States welcome the proclamation by the UN General Assembly of 2027–2036 as the International Decade for the Consolidation of Peace for Future Generations.
Member States will deepen cooperation within the Organization, which can serve as the basis for the formation of a space of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.
Member States advocate for the reform and improvement of the system of global governance and regulation, including the development of appropriate norms and rules to ensure that all States participate equally in decision-making and benefit from their results.
Member States adhere to a policy that excludes bloc-based and confrontational approaches to resolving issues of international and regional development, and advocates for the peaceful resolution of disagreements and disputes between States.
Member States advocate for sustainable international peace and call for joint action to address traditional and new security challenges and threats.
Taking into account the views of member states, they reaffirmed the relevance of initiatives to promote cooperation in building a new type of international relations in the spirit of mutual respect, justice, equality, and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as to develop a shared vision of creating a community with a shared destiny for humanity and developing dialogue on the idea of ”One Earth. One Family. One Future.”
Member States call on the international community to join the SCO Initiative “On World Unity for a Just Peace, Harmony and Development” .
The member states, recognizing that Central Asia is the core of the SCO, highly appreciate the successes of the region’s countries in strengthening peace and sustainable development. In this regard, they welcome the hosting by the Republic of Tajikistan of annual high-level conferences on this topic.
Member States will continue to firmly advocate for the preservation of the memory of the results of the Second World War and to counter the falsification of history.
Member States support maintaining outer space free from weapons of any kind and acknowledge the importance of strict compliance with the current legal regime, which provides for the exclusively peaceful use of outer space.
They emphasize the need to conclude an international legally binding instrument that would ensure greater transparency and provide reliable guarantees to prevent an arms race in outer space .
Member States reiterate that the unilateral and unlimited buildup of global missile defense systems by individual countries or groups of states has a negative impact on international security and stability. They consider attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of the security of other states unacceptable .
Member States, expressing concern about the growing risks in the field of information security, are categorically opposed to the militarization of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and the creation of threats to the security of critical information infrastructure.
Member States consider it important to ensure equal rights for all countries to regulate the Internet and the sovereign right of the State to manage it in its national segment.
They consider that the provision of unauthorized satellite Internet services on the territory of Member States without obtaining the appropriate license and/or permission from their competent national authorities is a violation of international telecommunication law.
Member states, emphasizing the key role of the UN in international information security, support the further development of universal norms in this area on a voluntary basis and call for efforts to sign and ratify the UN Convention against Cybercrime. They will continue to improve mechanisms within the SCO to combat the use of ICTs for criminal purposes.
Member States note the importance of countering the use of the internet for terrorist, separatist, and extremist purposes. Member States will strengthen coordination of actions in the areas of international information security, information protection, and combating new types of crime.
Member States reaffirm the need to ensure the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies, including the inadmissibility of their use for the purpose of intentionally causing harm to human life and health, as well as to the national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of States.
In this regard, they emphasize the importance of signing a Memorandum between the governments of the SCO member states on cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.
The Member States, Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of July 1, 1968, advocate strict adherence to the Treaty’s provisions, comprehensive and balanced promotion of all the goals and principles enshrined therein, and support the strengthening of the global nuclear disarmament process and the international non-proliferation regime. They emphasize their inalienable right to develop research, production, and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes and to pursue equitable, sustainable, and mutually beneficial international cooperation in this area without discrimination. The Member States noted that restrictive measures in this area are contrary to international law.
Member States note the important contribution of nuclear-weapon-free zones established by states in the region on the basis of voluntary agreements to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and advancing the goal of nuclear disarmament. They welcome the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Semipalatinsk Treaty establishing a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and emphasize the importance of its consistent implementation for ensuring security, trust, and cooperation in the region.
In this regard, they noted the importance of adopting the SCO Declaration on Strengthening Multilateral Partnership for Nuclear Safety and Security.
Member States call for full compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction as an important instrument for disarmament and non-proliferation. They also reaffirm their support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Member States note the importance of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction for improving the global biological security system and advocate for its compliance.
In this context, Member States emphasize the importance of deepening international cooperation in this area, including the possible establishment of an International Biological Safety Agency.
Member states express deep concern over developments in the Middle East and around Iran. They reiterate the SCO’s previously stated position condemning military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to the country’s economy.
Such actions violate the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter and create serious risks to international peace, security and stability.
Member States express their sincere condolences to the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the tragic death of Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and to the families of the victims.
Member States, reaffirming their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, advocate a resolution to the conflict solely through political and diplomatic means. In this regard, they welcome all efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation in the region.
Member States note that the only possible way to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East is a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian question.
Member States, reaffirming their commitment to the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, neutral and peaceful state free from terrorism, war and drugs, express their readiness to support the efforts of the international community to ensure peace, stability and development in this country.
Member States reiterate that the formation of an inclusive government with broad participation of representatives of all ethno-political groups of Afghan society is the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in that country.
II
Member States, reaffirming their firm commitment to combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, emphasize the inadmissibility of attempts to exploit terrorist, separatist, and extremist groups for selfish purposes. They recognize the leading role of sovereign states and their competent authorities in countering terrorist and extremist threats.
Member states consider attempts to discredit government bodies and structures of SCO member states unacceptable. They emphasize that such actions are contrary to international law and undermine the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs enshrined in the UN Charter.
Member States strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, emphasize that “double standards” in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and call on the international community to combat terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, with the UN playing a central role by fully implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in accordance with the UN Charter and the principles of international law, in order to jointly combat all terrorist organizations. They note the importance of the consensus adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
The Member States emphasize the significant and active role of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) in the development and strengthening of the SCO, and highly appreciate its contribution to deepening interaction between the SCO Member States and expanding international cooperation in the field of countering terrorism, separatism and extremism, organizing and conducting joint anti-terrorism exercises and other relevant events .
The Member States, emphasizing the importance of the activities of the meetings of the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Public Security, note the signing of the Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement on Cooperation between the Governments of the SCO Member States in Combating Crime of 11 June 2010, aimed at improving counteraction to new challenges and threats.
Member States reaffirm the importance of strengthening cooperation in addressing the global drug problem based on the current international drug control regime, the inadmissibility of legalizing the use of all types of drugs for non-medical purposes, and their commitment to further strengthening anti-drug capacity and building a drug-free society.
Member States support the further strengthening of cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors, including the development of systemic drug prevention and the reduction of drug addiction, in accordance with the documents adopted within the SCO in this area, as well as the regular implementation of the anti-drug operation “Web,” the preventive campaign “For a Drug-Free World,” and other relevant events.
They adopted and will ensure the implementation of the Program for Cooperation between SCO Member States to Combat Drug Addiction until 2030, as well as the Program for Coordination of Measures to Combat the Spread of Synthetic Drugs and Their Precursors until 2030.
Member States welcome the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and Their Precursors. They support the further strengthening of international anti-drug cooperation.
Member States note the need for further institutional strengthening of SCO mechanisms in the field of security, including increased coordination between relevant structures and the development of analytical support for decision-making.
The Regulation on the Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats to SCO Member States, which includes the Information Security Center and the Center for Combating Transnational Organized Crime, and the Regulation on the Executive Committee of the SCO Anti-Drug Center were approved . They are confident that the practical launch of these permanent bodies will contribute to the further strengthening of specialized cooperation within the SCO.
The Member States note the importance of further developing cooperation between their defense ministries, including regularly holding the joint counter-terrorism command-staff exercise “Peace Mission” and other practical military cooperation activities that will contribute to maintaining peace and strengthening security in the SCO region.
They advocate the implementation of the Roadmap for Strengthening Military Cooperation between the Defense Ministries of the SCO Member States, as well as continued work on preparing and coordinating the Agreement between the SCO Member States on Confidence-Building Measures in the Military Sphere.
Member States are committed to further strengthening cooperation in the legal and judicial fields based on the principles of the rule of law and respect for national legal systems. They support deepening dialogue between supreme courts, prosecutors general, and ministries of justice .
III
The member states, noting the role of the SCO region in the global economy and sustainable development, advocate for further improvement and reform of the global economic governance system. They will support and strengthen an open, transparent, fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system based on generally accepted international principles and rules that promotes global economic development, ensures fair market access, and ensures special and differential treatment for developing countries.
Member States oppose unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to the UN Charter and other norms of international law, the rules and principles of the World Trade Organization, that are detrimental to the interests of ensuring international security, including its food, energy and humanitarian components, and that have a negative impact on the global economy .
Member states will continue to implement the SCO Economic Development Strategy for the period up to 2030 in order to deepen economic cooperation, expand the scale of trade and promote its balance, maintain the stability of production and supply chains in the region, and ensure the sustainable economic development of states in the interests of creating a space of broad, open, mutually beneficial, and equal interaction in Eurasia.
The Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, reaffirming their support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), noted the ongoing work on the joint implementation of this project, including efforts to align the development of the Eurasian Economic Union and the BRI.
Member States support the further development of cooperation in the field of antimonopoly policy and intend to increase practical cooperation between relevant agencies.
Member states note the positive role of e-commerce in expanding trade and economic cooperation. They express their intention to promote the improvement of cross-border e-commerce infrastructure, reduce costs, and increase trust between businesses within the SCO region, including by enhancing cooperation in the use of digital technologies to protect consumer rights and developing a unified approach to the online resolution of cross-border commercial disputes .
Member States will continue to implement customs cooperation in priority areas, including improving the customs administration system and developing a “smart customs” mechanism.
The Member States emphasize the importance of further deepening cooperation in the transport sector, including utilizing the transit potential of the SCO Member States, creating new and modernizing existing international routes for road and rail transport, multimodal transport corridors and logistics centers, as well as the implementation of digital, innovative and energy-saving technologies.
Member states support the expansion of inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, the progressive enhancement of the resilience of energy production and supply chains, and are committed to promoting the sustainable, stable, and balanced development of a non-discriminatory global energy market. They will continue to implement the SCO Member States’ Energy Cooperation Strategy to 2030.
Member States recognise the growing role of industrial cooperation and express their readiness to jointly develop mutually beneficial partnerships in this area.
They emphasize the importance of cooperation in the field of standardization in order to facilitate the reduction of technical barriers in areas of mutual interest, and advocate for the establishment of contacts between the standardization bodies of the SCO member states.
Member States will continue to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and food security, supporting the exchange of agricultural technologies and training of personnel in this area. They express their willingness to develop cooperation in the field of plant breeding and seed production.
Member States will enhance cooperation in the field of veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, ensuring the safety of agricultural and food products, promote the development of trade in agricultural products and strengthen international cooperation in the fight against epidemics and infections, as well as their consequences .
The Member States, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the SCO region’s leadership in innovation, express their intention to facilitate the formation of a seamless SCO startup ecosystem, including by promoting synergies in the development infrastructure and support measures for innovative companies in the SCO Member States.
Member states emphasize the important role of financial cooperation in promoting economic growth within the SCO region. They note the importance of further implementation by interested SCO member states of the Roadmap for gradually increasing the share of national currencies in mutual settlements.
Member States support the reform of the international financial architecture aimed at increasing the representation and strengthening the role of developing countries in the governing bodies of international financial institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund.
Member states will continue to develop practical dialogue to strengthen financial cooperation within the SCO Interbank Consortium (IBC). They support expediting the resolution of the issue of the authorized bank represented by the Islamic Republic of Iran joining the IBC.
The Member States note the progress made towards establishing the SCO Development Bank in the format of interested Member States during the Chairmanship of the Kyrgyz Republic and emphasize the importance of continuing work in this direction.
The Member States acknowledge the importance of further deepening cooperation in the field of investment, using the opportunities of existing mechanisms and platforms for interaction within the SCO.
Member states are ready to strengthen interregional contacts, unlocking the potential of the SCO Heads of Regions Forum.
Member states will promote the development of small and medium-sized businesses. They highly value the important contribution of the SCO Business Council to the Organization’s economic and trade cooperation and will continue to leverage its potential in developing multilateral business ties.
IV
Member States support the promotion of cooperation in the field of environmental protection, mitigation of the negative effects of climate change and adaptation to it, and welcome the implementation of projects to restore and preserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems, including through the use of environmentally friendly technologies and innovative solutions.
They note the importance of signing the Memorandum of Cooperation on Climate Change, the Initiative on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Biodiversity and the Joint Action Plan for its implementation for 2026–2031.
Member States note the initiative to hold the Second Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25” in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2027.
They positively evaluate cooperation in the area of emergency assistance and express their readiness to improve interaction in the area of early warning and joint response to emergencies, as well as the elimination of their consequences.
Member States note the growing role of the tourism industry as an important sector of economic development, contributing to the growth of mutual trade, expansion of transport connectivity, attracting investment, creating jobs and enhancing the competitiveness of regions .
The Member States highly appreciate the contribution of the city of Cholpon-Ata in the Kyrgyz Republic to unlocking the region’s tourism potential and further strengthening cultural cooperation as the “Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO in 2025–2026.”
The Member States welcome the announcement of the city of Lahore, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as the “Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO in 2026–2027”.
Member States express their readiness to deepen cooperation in the field of medicine, including by creating an equitable, effective and sustainable public health system, expanding cooperation in the field of emergency medical care, telemedicine, traditional (folk) medicine, primary health care, prevention of and response to infectious diseases and potential pandemics.
Member States support the proposal to establish an SCO Dialogue Platform for the exchange of competencies in the field of healthcare management .
Member States recognize the contribution of the mechanism of regular meetings of heads of services responsible for ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being, which facilitates equal dialogue among SCO countries on issues of countering infectious threats in the region.
Member States note the need to further deepen cooperation in the field of education through the development of inter-university relations and academic exchanges, and the promotion of the training of specialists taking into account the national priorities and needs of Member States.
Member States consider it important to ensure the development of the SCO University as a key practical mechanism for cooperation in the field of education.
The Member States confirm the advisability of strengthening scientific, technical and innovative cooperation, including with the active involvement of young people through the regular holding of the SCO Young Scientists Forum.
They welcome the proposal to establish a Dialogue Platform of heads of national academies of sciences and authorized representatives of higher fundamental research organizations of the SCO member states.
Member States emphasize the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and recall the universal nature of the obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, oppose the application of “double standards”, particularly in matters of human rights, and oppose interference in the internal affairs of sovereign States.
They reaffirm their commitment to protecting the rights of women and children, including ensuring their rights in the areas of education, health care, social and legal support, as well as strengthening the institution of the family.
Member States maintain regular interaction on a voluntary basis between national human rights institutions, government agencies and other organizations of the SCO member states that carry out functions to protect human rights and freedoms.
The Member States emphasize that the SCO region is the cradle of ancient civilizations, world and traditional religions and beliefs , a treasure trove of outstanding cultural and scientific achievements, and the rich spiritual heritage of the peoples of the Member States, which have become an integral part of the common historical heritage of humanity.
Member States note the active development of cooperation in the field of culture and support the holding of various international cultural events.
The Member States, emphasizing the significance of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Leo Tolstoy and the 100th anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov, support initiatives to hold events in 2028 within the framework of the SCO dedicated to the memory of these outstanding writers, who made an invaluable contribution to world literature, the development of humanistic values, and the strengthening of cultural and humanitarian ties between peoples.
Member States emphasize the need to develop intercivilizational and intercultural dialogue to strengthen mutual respect, tolerance, and the preservation and promotion of rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In this regard, they welcome the holding of the Forum of Civilizations under the auspices of the SCO in the fall of 2026 in India. They also note the importance of the International Day of Dialogue among Civilizations.
Member States consider it important to ensure the cultural and historical rights of Member States in all activities related to the preservation and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Member States will continue to expand cultural and humanitarian exchanges, deepen mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation through contacts in the field of public diplomacy.
Member States will promote the further strengthening of youth cooperation and, in this regard, highly value the activities of the SCO Youth Council. They note the contributions of the Conference of Young Authors (Writers) of the SCO Countries, the Meeting of Young Leaders and Talents of the SCO Countries, the International Camp for Young Scientists of the SCO, the SCO Youth Camp and the SCO Youth Development Forum, and the SCO Youth Forum to strengthening contacts between peoples within the Organization .
Member States emphasize the importance of further strengthening cooperation in physical education and sports, including hosting international sports events within the SCO framework, which contribute to strengthening friendly ties between the sports communities and peoples of Member States. They support the promotion of traditional/national sports.
Member States welcome the hosting of the Sixth World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic.
V
The Member States highly appreciate the results of the Kyrgyz Republic’s chairmanship of the SCO in 2025–2026, which was held under the slogan “25 Years of the SCO: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity” and made a significant contribution to strengthening the Organization’s authority, its institutional potential, and expanding practical cooperation in all areas.
The SCO presidency will pass to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO will be convened in 2027 .
The Member States are convinced that the Organization, entering a new stage of evolution, will continue to increase the practical results of multifaceted cooperation in accordance with the SCO Development Strategy until 2035 and strengthen its role in international affairs .
The Member States, in adopting this Declaration in connection with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the SCO, declare that the Organization will continue to effectively serve the lofty goals and objectives that were proclaimed at its creation and will continue to make a significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region, ensuring the security and prosperity of the peoples of the SCO Member States.
: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation