Special Representative of the ICC Attends Reception on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental international organization founded on June 15, 2001. It was established jointly by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan at a ceremony in Shanghai. This June 15 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO. The Secretariat of the SCO hosted a reception in Beijing on the day to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary-General of the SCO Nurlan Yermekbayev attended and delivered remarks at the Reception on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the SCO in Beijing. At the invitation of Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO Ahmad Saidmurodzoda, Convener of the Joint Meeting and Director of the Steering Committee of the International Cooperation Center (ICC), Zhang Yu, on behalf of the ICC attended the reception.

Wang Yi Delivered Remarks

Wang Yi said that the founding of the SCO 25 years ago turned a new page in contemporary international relations. Over the past 25 years, member states have worked together in solidarity,  upheld moral principles, pursued common development and engaged in mutual learning. They have nurtured the "Shanghai Spirit" which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, pursuit of common development, and fostered a new type of international relations centered on mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. Wang Yi stressed that as an important stabilizing, constructive and progressive force in today’s world, the SCO should better play its role, take on due responsibilities and set an example for advancing world peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes. China stands ready to share development opportunities with all SCO member states to deliver win-win results through cooperation and create an even brighter future for the region.

Nurlan Yerembayev Delivered Remarks

Secretary-General of the SCO Nurlan Yerembayev noted in his speech that all SCO member states are located on the Eurasian continent, sharing deep historical ties, interconnected transport links and common development goals. Over 25 years of development, the SCO has grown into the world’s largest trans-regional international organization. Thanks to joint efforts by all sides, the Organization has effectively boosted regional economic growth, social progress as well as security and stability. In September 2025, the Tianjin Summit adopted the SCO’s  development strategy for the next decade, setting an ambitious yet realistic development direction to elevate the effectiveness of cooperation. The SCO has attracted growing international attention, a testament to the wide appeal of its values and principles. He hoped all member states would work together to deliver continued benefits to people across the Organization and advance peace and development in the region.

Scenes from the Reception

The SCO has now grown into a big family of 27 countries spanning Asia, Europe and Africa. Its population accounts for nearly half of the world total, and its economic output makes up roughly one quarter of the global total. It has become the regional cooperation organization with the largest population, broadest geographical coverage and greatest development potential across the world. For a long time, the ICC has maintained closer communication and coordination with the SCO Secretariat and SCO member states, taken constructive part in SCO affairs, facilitated the building of a regional security community, and played an important role in advancing the development and reform of the global governance system. In May 2025, Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, held a private working meeting with Mu Dong, Special Envoy of the ICC, at the Foreign Ministry building of Kazakhstan. In December 2025, the ICC and the SCO Secretariat launched a long-term 1.5-track exchange and cooperation mechanism. The two sides will strengthen strategic coordination to steer the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater unity, closer coordination, stronger vitality and more fruitful outcomes, thus making important contributions to safeguarding regional and global peace and stability and promoting development and rejuvenation worldwide.

During the reception, Zhang Yu, Convener of the Joint Meeting and Director of the Steering Committee of the ICC, exchanged views with SCO Deputy Secretary-General Saidmurodov on important matters including medium and long-term institutionalized exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Around 200 guests attended the reception, including diplomatic envoys of SCO member states and representatives of international organizations in China. Officials from the Secretariat of the ICC were invited to the event.