In Bishkek, the SCO marks 25 years by casting itself as an alternative order to the West | The Refract
What the comparison reveals
What everyone says
The summit marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held in Bishkek on August 31 and September 1, 2026.
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have showcased a deepening of their strategic ties, framing their cooperation as a model for inter-state relations.
Massoud Pezeshkian held multiple bilateral meetings in Bishkek with India, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia.
Where it breaks apart
— Alternative Order to the West — Russia, joined by China's rhetoric of 'balanced multilateralism', frames the SCO as a model based on mutual respect rather than rules imposed by the West, while India, Turkey, and Pakistan describe their presence as a bilateral balance exercise, without breaking with their Western partnerships.
— Iran's Diplomatic Status — Iranian media presents Pezeshkian's tour to Bishkek as a deliberate choice of dialogue over the 'path of war' pursued by the US, while French media describes an isolated country seeking Russian and Chinese support after the resumption of US strikes.
— SCO's Actual Scope — Researchers cited by French media consider the organization's concrete impact uncertain, while Russia and China highlight tangible results: a good neighborliness treaty with Kyrgyzstan, trade figures, and railway projects.
Explore every perspective on this subject across 7 countries.
In Bishkek, the SCO marks 25 years by casting itself as an alternative order to the West
published on
September 1, 2026
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SAME FRAME
The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday, August 31, and Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with attendees including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, as well as Egyptian Vice Premier and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Xi Jinping signed a treaty of permanent good-neighborly relations, friendship, and cooperation with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. Vladimir Putin proposed Sino-Russian cooperation on artificial intelligence to Xi Jinping, and Narendra Modi publicly asked Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
The summit concluded with the transfer of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's rotating presidency to Pakistan, which will host the next edition in Islamabad.
Pezeshkian's tour
Pezeshkian has increased bilateral meetings (India, Russia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan) following US strikes against Iran.
Uncertain fallout is expected
French researchers: China-India, India-Pakistan, and China-Russia rivalries limit the concrete impact of the OCS.
Turkey
A non-full member since 2012 as a "dialogue partner", Ankara nonetheless remains a member of NATO.
Uneven coverage
Outside the French press, mainstream Western media devote few articles to this summit.
Understand the context
AUG 30, 2026
Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping arrive in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
AUG 31, 2026
Xi Jinping and Sadyr Japarov sign a permanent good-neighborly relations treaty in Bishkek.
SEP 1, 2026
The summit continues with bilateral talks between Pezeshkian, Erdoğan, and Modi.
Key figures
$27.2bn
China-Kyrgyzstan bilateral trade in 2025 increased by 19.8% year-over-year
