China’s Xi urges SCO member states to make security a key priority

The 26th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 31 August to 1 September 2026.

Terrorism

• Strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and rejection of double standards.
• Called for action against cross-border terrorism under the UN-led framework.
• Reaffirmed opposition to terrorism, separatism and extremism and their use for strategic purposes.

Cyber and Information Security

• Called for action against misuse of the internet for terrorism and extremism.
• Agreed to strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity, information protection and new forms of cybercrime.

West Asia

• Expressed concern over instability in West Asia and supported Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Favoured dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation over military confrontation.
• Condoled the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader.

Global Governance

• Called for reform of global governance institutions.
• Rejected bloc politics and confrontational approaches.
• Supported peaceful dispute resolution under the UN Charter and international law.

India’s Message at the SCO Summit

Conflict Has No Borders

• Regional conflicts disrupt energy security, maritime trade and global supply chains.
• The Global South bears a disproportionate impact of such disruptions.
• India reiterated that conflicts must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, not war.

Terrorism

• Terrorism is a global threat requiring collective action.
• India called for dismantling the entire terror ecosystem of financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.
• PM Modi rejected double standards on terrorism and the use of terror as a state policy or strategic asset.

Connectivity

• India supports connectivity that promotes trade, markets and economic growth.
• Such projects must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• India linked this principle to the SCO Charter.

India’s SCO Vision

• India reiterated its SCO formula: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
• The next phase of SCO cooperation should focus on tangible outcomes.
• Indian initiatives include the Start-up Forum, Young Authors’ Conclave and Young Scientists’ Forum.
• India will host the SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum.

Significance for India

• The summit allowed India to reinforce its positions on counter-terrorism, strategic autonomy, sovereignty-based connectivity and peaceful conflict resolution.
• It also provided a platform to engage simultaneously with Russia, China and Central Asian states.
• India’s approach seeks to make the SCO more focused on practical cooperation rather than geopolitical confrontation.