BISHKEK, Aug 30, 2026: World leaders are arriving here for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, with Kyrgyzstan preparing to host the 26th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State on Sept. 1.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on Sunday to attend the summit and begin a state visit to Kyrgyzstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive on Aug. 31, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also due to attend the summit after completing his visit to Uzbekistan.
The gathering is taking place as the SCO marks the 25th anniversary of its establishment. The organization has been preparing a Bishkek Declaration to mark the anniversary, along with a number of thematic statements and other decisions for consideration by the heads of state.
The summit's agenda covers a broad range of regional issues, including political and security cooperation, economic and trade ties, transport connectivity, energy, digital development and humanitarian cooperation. The meeting is expected to set priorities for the organization under the incoming chairmanship.
The arrival of the leaders also brings a series of bilateral engagements alongside the formal SCO proceedings. Xi's visit includes talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, with China and Kyrgyzstan expected to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues. China's engagement with Kyrgyzstan has increasingly included trade, investment and transport connectivity, including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.
Modi is travelling to Bishkek after a two-day visit to Uzbekistan. During talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Sunday, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030. Modi's participation in the SCO summit will add another bilateral dimension to the gathering as leaders hold meetings on the sidelines.
Pakistan will also have a significant role in the Bishkek proceedings. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend the summit, after which Pakistan will assume the SCO chairmanship for a one-year term. Islamabad is scheduled to host the next SCO Council of Heads of State summit in 2027.
DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50 chaired a meeting regarding the SCO Summit to be hosted by Pakistan in 2027.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 19, 2026
Chairman CDA briefed the meeting on the progress of various development and infrastructure projects. DPM/FM expressed satisfaction with the preparations underway and directed all… pic.twitter.com/BrVpvAYS2h
The SCO summit is therefore also expected to mark the transition from Kyrgyzstan's current chairmanship to Pakistan, with Islamabad taking responsibility for the organization's programme for the coming year.
As leaders gather in Bishkek, attention is now turning to the summit's final declarations and decisions, and to how the organization will shape its agenda on security, economic cooperation and regional connectivity under the new chairmanship.
