Published on: 2026-07-29
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Bishkek, July 29 /Xinhua/ — From July 26 to 30, the Media and Analytical Centers Summit within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – 2026 is being held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, jointly organized by the Xinhua News Agency and the Kyrgyz National Information Agency “Kabar”. About 260 representatives from nearly 150 leading mass media outlets, well-known analytical centers, and government agencies of SCO countries, as well as the SCO Secretariat, are participating in the event.
At the opening ceremony and plenary session held on July 27, participants focused on the theme “The Significance of the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ in the New Era: From Value Consensus to Practical Cooperation.” They engaged in in-depth discussions on a wide range of issues, contributing intellectually to the further development of SCO cooperation in all areas.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO. The “Shanghai Spirit” consistently serves as a guiding principle for the sustainable development of the Organization.
“The voice of the SCO as a model of a new type of interstate partnership sounds more and more convincing every year in regional and global dimensions. The transformation of the SCO into a significant force in the Eurasian space, with its colossal and multifaceted potential, is largely facilitated by adherence to the ‘Shanghai Spirit,’ ” emphasized Kadirbek Sarbaev, senior expert of the SCO Secretariat.
Mehr Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, the CEO of the media group, noted that the “Shanghai Spirit” is the foundation for forming a common understanding among the SCO member states. This very consensus promotes development and purposefully directs the process of strengthening the potential of the participating countries in the right direction.
“Today, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has formed as one of the most significant examples of multilateral cooperation, uniting states based on mutual respect with diverse cultures, histories, economic potentials, and approaches to development,” noted Subhiddin Shamsiddinzoda, director of the National Information Agency of Tajikistan “Khovar”.
The General Director of the Belta news agency, Andrei Mokhor, pointed out that in the current conditions, when the world is rapidly changing, the role of the media in shaping an objective international agenda significantly increases. “Since each national culture within the SCO is unique and is a repository of centuries-old wisdom, we must strive to make this heritage accessible to the widest possible audience. Expanding interaction in the media environment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization states will allow this work to be carried out more effectively,” he noted.
The director of the Kyrgyzstan Center for Expert Initiatives “Oy Ordo,” Igor Shestakov, believes that soft power within the SCO has a unique and enormous potential, which lies in the presence of leading global media, educational, scientific, and expert institutions. “The question of how to convert the powerful expert potential of the member countries into real integration projects remains without a concrete answer for now,” he said.
Deputy General Director of TASS Marat Abulkhatin reported that very recently TASS and the Xinhua agency jointly conducted the first stage of a media tour for Russian and Chinese journalists across the cities of Russia’s “Golden Ring.” “We eagerly await the second stage of the joint media tour by TASS and Xinhua, which will take place in Chinese cities in August. We believe that through live communication, joint work, and immersion in each other’s realities, we will be able to build strong professional and human connections, which are the foundation of the ‘Shanghai Spirit,'” he said.
The President of the Central Asian International Chamber of Commerce, Maksat Chakiev, stated that the SCO has created a unique space of political trust between states with different cultures, economic models, and national interests. The next stage is to transform this trust into economic connectivity and to form a space of joint development and added value, said M. Chakiev.
The head of the Department of Contemporary History at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Mirzokhid Rakhimov, noted that the SCO member states are deepening partnership relations in the fields of education, culture, and human capital development, facilitating the expansion of contacts and cooperation between peoples. “There is no doubt that cultural, educational, and academic exchanges help create a vivid picture based on mutual respect and close cooperation,” M. Rakhimov stated.
The Secretary General of the India-China Council for Economy and Culture, Mohammed Sakib, noted that the significance of the “Shanghai Spirit” in the new era is determined by whether it can not only unite shared beliefs but also facilitate the creation of a common system. To answer positively, it is necessary to clearly understand that the “Shanghai Spirit” is not a passive concept but an active action plan for building inclusive governance. “The theme of the current summit is not just a headline, but a call to turn cooperation declarations into real actions,” he emphasized.
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