Translated with AI
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will soon take place in Tianjin, China. Leaders from more than 20 countries and the heads of 10 international organizations are expected to attend, making it the largest summit since the SCO's inception. Commenting on this scale in July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called it "an indicator of the SCO's growing creative agenda and the Organization's appeal to countries in the Global South and the global majority."
2025 – Year of Sustainable Development
This year has been declared the Year of Sustainable Development by the SCO countries. It could become a turning point for the organization, as a new model of regional cooperation emerges, one in which environmental, economic, and social sustainability are closely linked with the SCO's traditional agenda, which prioritizes security and trade and economic cooperation.
Steps to a Green Transformation
Amid growing global environmental risks, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is actively responding to these developments and stepping up its efforts to implement a green transformation. The strategy for developing energy cooperation among SCO member states through 2030 places significant emphasis on diversified cooperation in renewable and low-carbon energy sources, with the development of advanced, resource-saving, energy-efficient, green, and low-emission technologies identified as a priority. Although traditional energy sources remain a significant part of the SCO countries' energy mix, clean energy development is proceeding rapidly. China will invest over $625 billion in clean energy by 2024, almost double its 2015 total. Its share of global investment in this sector has grown to 33%.
Transition to digital
The SCO countries are actively working on digital transformation. A number of projects are being implemented aimed at building and improving digital infrastructure, bridging the digital divide, enhancing digital competitiveness, digitizing industry and small and medium-sized enterprises, creating smart cities, promoting e-commerce, and more. At the SCO Digital Economy Forum in Tianjin this summer alone, 12 new digital economy projects were signed. The parties are exchanging experiences and conducting joint research on the practical application of digital technologies in various fields, from medicine to transportation.
Related to each other
Strengthening transport and communications connectivity is a key factor in achieving the SCO's overall economic prosperity. Extensive work is underway in this area as well. New transport corridors are being built, the efficiency of existing ones is being improved, and freight traffic on China-Europe routes is increasing. Furthermore, SCO countries are strengthening their energy connectivity, including by building new pipelines and implementing solar, wind, and hydropower projects. Also on the agenda are strengthening digital connectivity, removing barriers to trade and the economy, developing common financial institutions, and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.
Safety first
Of course, the SCO countries will continue to strengthen regional security mechanisms: countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism, traditionally referred to as the "three forces of evil," curbing drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, and addressing information security. This will be facilitated, in particular, by the decision adopted this summer to create new security centers in Central Asia.
It is clear that the Tianjin summit will address a very broad range of issues, and guidelines for further development will be enshrined in the SCO Development Strategy to 2035.
Author: Wang Xiaobo
