AKP Bishkek, July 27, 2026 --

Xinhua News Agency and the Kyrgyz National Kabar News Agency co-hosted the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from July 27 to 30, coinciding with the upcoming 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.

Under the theme "The 'Shanghai Spirit' in the New Era: From Shared Values to Practical Cooperation," the summit brings together over some 260 representatives from mainstream media organisations, leading think tanks, government agencies, and international organisations across SCO member states.

Since its founding in Shanghai, the SCO has grown to include 27 countries, with a combined economic output of nearly 30 trillion U.S. dollars. As it fosters cooperation across more than 50 sectors, the SCO has always upheld the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilisations, and pursuit of common development.

The gathering aims to amplify the SCO's collective voice, reinforce mutual trust, and offer intellectual and public-opinion support for building a closer SCO community with a shared future.

The summit will centre on several key thematic discussions designed to bridge policy differences and foster pragmatic collaboration:

Think Tank-Media Integration: Building development consensus, creating regular collaboration platforms, and translating research into accessible public communication to convey a unified voice.

Unlocking Regional Potential: Enhancing "soft connectivity" in policy and standards, accelerating the digitalisation and efficiency of transnational transport corridors (such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway), and countering disinformation with joint reporting.

Advancing the SCO Model for Global Governance: Elevating the core principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilisations, and pursuit of common development to address global governance deficits and coordinate with Global South platforms like BRICS and ASEAN.

Pragmatic Obstacle-Solving: Overcoming administrative and institutional obstacles in energy, digital economy, and trade, while jointly formulating action plans to tackle climate, food, cyber, and biosecurity challenges.

The summit will produce concrete theoretical and publishing outcomes aimed at deepening cultural and intellectual exchanges, including the adoption of the Bishkek Consensus of the 2026 SCO Media and Think Tank Summit.

By fostering closer alignment between media coverage and think tank research, the summit aims to transform policy concepts into broad social consensus. Participating institutions will leverage the "Shanghai Spirit" to promote multilateralism, project a stronger SCO voice in global governance, and strengthen the foundations for peace, stability, and common prosperity across the region.

By K. Rithy Reak