SCO Adopts Strategic Documents and Strengthens Institutional Development at Tianjin Summit

The 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in the Chinese city of Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025. According to the official website of the SCO, a number of strategically important documents were signed, covering key areas such as security, energy, digitalization, and international partnership.

Among the main outcomes of the summit were the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration, the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, the Program for Countering Extremist Ideology for 2026–2030, and the Roadmap for Energy Cooperation until 2030.

The Organization also made several institutional decisions, including:

• Granting dialogue partner status to Laos;
• Obtaining observer status with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS);
• Naming Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan) as the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2025–2026.

Agreements were also signed on the establishment of two new institutions within the SCO framework:

• The Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats;
• The SCO Anti-Drug Center.

In addition, decisions were approved on administrative and foreign policy matters, including the signing of a memorandum between the SCO and the Roscongress Foundation, and the presentation of reports on the activities of the SCO and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for 2024.

Participants also issued a series of non-binding political statements, including:

• On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations;
• On cooperation in digital economy, energy, green industry, artificial intelligence, and scientific and technological innovation;
• On supporting the multilateral trading system and combating drug trafficking.

Moreover, an investment cooperation statement on sustainable development was signed by relevant ministries and agencies of SCO member states, along with a protocol on the status of the SCO Secretariat in China.

The comprehensive package of documents underscores the member states’ commitment to strengthening multifaceted cooperation and ensuring sustainable regional development amid ongoing global challenges.