Kyrgyzstan takes SCO helm for fourth time, eyes economic, green initiatives

Kyrgyzstan has assumed the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for the fourth time in its history.

As part of its 2026 chairmanship, the country plans to prioritize the development of the organization’s financial mechanisms and the improvement of its infrastructure, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“The Kyrgyz chairmanship will be held under the slogan ‘25 years of the SCO: together towards sustainable peace, development and prosperity,’ with the priority being the realization of economic cooperation capabilities. In this context, Kyrgyzstan proposes to more swiftly resolve the issue of establishing an effective financial mechanism for the organization, including the foundation of the SCO Development Bank, the SCO Development Fund and the Investment Fund, thus contributing to regional economic integration,” Japarov said.

In addition, Kyrgyzstan plans to focus on transport, logistics, and infrastructure. The president stated that the chairmanship “proposes to develop multilateral cooperation to create favorable conditions for international road and railway transportation, also providing for the creation of new transport routes and effective use of the transit and transport capacities of SCO member states.”

Security will also remain a key priority. Japarov emphasized collective efforts to counter “terrorism, separatism and extremism,” highlighting the establishment of the SCO Center for Countering International Organized Crime in Bishkek as a major contribution to combating illegal activities of organized crime groups across the SCO region.

Kyrgyzstan also plans to promote green economy initiatives and climate action through joint projects. Digital transformation and youth engagement will be addressed via the proposed SCO Youth Digital Forum, while cultural and sports cooperation will feature in the next World Nomad Games, to be held in Kyrgyzstan in autumn 2026. Japarov also noted that Cholpon-Ata, a resort town on Lake Issyk-Kul, has been designated the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital.

The SCO, which unites several of the world’s largest countries by both territory and population, was established in 2001 in Shanghai by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

The organization currently includes 10 members (Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus), several observers (Afghanistan, Mongolia, Belarus), and dialogue partners (Azerbaijan, Türkiye, UAE, Bahrain, Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka).

By Vafa Guliyeva