Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an Eurasian intergovernmental organisation and economic and security alliance.
Origin: Began as the “Shanghai Five” (1996)—China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan—focusing on resolving border disputes and fostering security.
In 2001, Uzbekistan joined, and the group evolved into the SCO with a wider mandate of cooperation.
SCO mainly focuses on regional development and security issues like regional terrorism, ethnic separatism, religious extremism, etc.
Official languages: Russian and Chinese.

10 Members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus.
- India and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2017 in its first round of expansion.
Observers: Afghanistan, Mongolia.
Dialogue Partners: Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Azerbaijan, etc.

Council of Heads of State (CHS): Supreme decision-making body.
Council of Heads of Government (CHG): Focuses on economic policies and cooperation.
Secretariat (Beijing): Administrative hub.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Tashkent-based counterterrorism body.

The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is a permanent organ of the SCO that serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
It is headquartered in Tashkent.
The head of RATS is elected for a three-year term.

SCO is the largest regional organisation globally, covering around 60% of the Eurasian landmass and 40% of the world’s population.
The SCO member states collectively contribute to ~23% of the world’s economic output and 42% of the world’s population.

China hosted it for the 5^th time, with the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.”

Kyrgyzstan took over the rotating presidency after China and will host the 2026 summit.
Members endorsed creating an SCO Development Bank to finance development infrastructure.
Members adopted the Tianjin Declaration to strengthen regional security & development.
Border CBM: Confidence-building measures were proposed to turn frontiers into cooperative platforms.
Palestine Peace: Leaders supported a just Palestinian settlement as essential for lasting West Asia peace.
Iran: UNSC Resolution 2231 on Iran’s nuclear commitments and sanctions relief was reaffirmed.

Terrorism: Leaders denounced terrorism in all forms, citing the Pahalgam and Jaffer Express attacks.
Global South: Member states emphasised empowering the Global South amid trade uncertainties.
Coercion: The declaration rejected coercive measures breaching UN Charter obligations and WTO rules.
Unity: “On Global Unity for a Just World, Harmony & Development” initiative was formally incorporated.