Upholding Shanghai Spirit: SCO On The Move

As the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for 2024–2025, China will host the SCO Summit in Tianjin in autumn 2025. Leaders from SCO countries will gather together by the Haihe River to reflect on SCO’s accomplishments, plan for the SCO’s future, and build consensus for cooperation.  

Established in 2001, the SCO has grown from six founding member states to 10 member states, 2 observer states, and 14 dialogue partners, spanning 26 countries across 3 continents. Covering over 36 million square kilometers and representing a population of more than 3.3 billion (approximately 42 per cent of the world's total), the SCO has become the world’s largest regional multilateral organisation in terms of territory and population. Like a “big family”, the SCO unites countries from diverse regions to jointly safeguard regional peace and security while promoting economic, trade, and cultural cooperation.  

Common development

The SCO’s growth hinges on its adherence to the “Shanghai Spirit”, which emphasises mutual trust and benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilisations, and the pursuit of common development. This ethos has forged a new path for regional cooperation, establishing the SCO as a vital security shield, cooperation bridge, friendly bond, and constructive force for regional stability and shared prosperity. It stands as a model for building a new type of international relations.  

Born in China and named after Shanghai, the SCO marks its “China Year” in 2025 as the rotating chairmanship returns to China after seven years. Under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move”, China will spearhead activities across political, security, economic, and cultural fields, invigorating the “Shanghai Spirit" through "Chinese initiatives” and propelling the SCO forward with “Chinese momentum”.  

China is advancing cooperation in eight key areas. Designating 2025 as the “SCO Year of Sustainable Development”, China will undertake initiatives aligned with the Global Development Initiative's eight priority areas: poverty reduction, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, development financing, climate change and green development, industrialisation, digital economy, and connectivity. Efforts will continue to synergise the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with regional development strategies, supporting modernisation in member states.  

China aims to host a fruitful summit. The 2018 SCO Qingdao Summit marked a milestone in the organisation’s development. In 2025, China will once again deliver a successful summit characterised by friendship, unity, and tangible outcomes, steering the SCO into a new phase of high-quality development marked by greater solidarity, collaboration, vitality, and impact. 

During the summit, a declaration will be issued to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This declaration will articulate member states’ shared stance on major international and regional issues and outline the SCO’s next-stage development strategy.  

Additionally, China will host over 100 events, including meetings of the Council of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), joint counter-terrorism exercises, skills competitions, e-commerce livestreams, think tank forums, youth exchange camps, international marathons, women’s forums, and training programmes on green development, poverty reduction, and environmental protection. These activities will deepen practical cooperation in security, economy, and culture, injecting new momentum into the SCO. Preparations are currently underway in an orderly manner.  

Multilateral platform 

Nepal officially attained SCO dialogue partner status on March 22, 2016. The SCO provides Nepal with a multilateral platform to engage in regional security, economic development, and cultural exchanges with member states and other dialogue partners. This engagement not only benefits Nepal’s domestic progress but also elevates its international influence. 

As Nepal’s good neighbour, friend, and partner, China welcomes Nepal’s enhanced participation in the SCO. China stands ready to work with Nepal to uphold the “Shanghai Spirit”, jointly build a brighter future for the SCO, and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond.  

(The author is Chinese ambassador to Nepal.)