Bishkek, September 1, 2026 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for further strengthening cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), particularly in trade, investment, energy, humanitarian affairs and regional security.
Addressing the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Bishkek, Putin said the organization had made significant progress over the past 25 years since its establishment in 2001 by Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
He described the SCO as one of the independent and influential centers of the emerging multipolar world and noted that it had become the world’s largest regional association. According to Putin, SCO member states are home to almost half of the global population and account for more than one-third of global GDP.
The Russian president expressed confidence that the package of decisions prepared for approval by the participating leaders would provide fresh momentum to cooperation within the organization.
Highlighting economic cooperation as a key priority, Putin said strengthening trade ties among SCO members would contribute to socioeconomic development and improved living standards.
He noted that Russia’s trade with SCO countries exceeded $400 billion in 2025, while the use of national currencies in mutual settlements had continued to increase. He said their share in Russia’s transactions with SCO member states had now exceeded 98 percent.
Putin also highlighted the role of the SCO Business Council and Interbank Consortium in promoting joint economic projects. He said the Development Bank being established within the organization could eventually contribute to these efforts.
According to Putin, the prospective development institution should be as independent as possible from financial systems of countries that, in his words, use economic instruments to secure unilateral advantages in international affairs.
He further called for continued coordinated and balanced energy policies in line with the SCO Energy Cooperation Strategy through 2030.
Turning to humanitarian cooperation, Putin said relations among SCO countries were expanding in education, healthcare, environmental protection, science and youth exchanges. He highlighted the SCO University, which brings together more than 100 universities from member countries, as a successful example of cooperation.
He also welcomed the organization of women’s forums under the SCO framework, aimed at strengthening the role of women in public, political, business and social life.
Referring to the ongoing World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, Putin noted the participation of representatives from numerous SCO countries, including Russia. He announced that Russia was ready to host the next edition of the Games in Kazan in 2028 and invited interested countries to participate.
Putin also said Russia looked forward to welcoming cultural and artistic representatives from SCO countries to the International United Cultures Forum, scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg in late September.
Concluding his remarks, the Russian president expressed confidence that the SCO summit in Bishkek would help advance multifaceted cooperation in the interests of strengthening security, peaceful development and prosperity across Eurasia.
Referring to the historical significance of September 1, Putin said the international community must make every effort to prevent the provocation of armed conflicts from becoming part of international practice.
“I am convinced that our work is helping move us in that direction,” he said.
