World Leaders Sign Joint Declaration at Twenty-Sixth Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other member state leaders have formally signed the joint declaration at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, the high-level gathering brought together heads of state from across Eurasia to mark the 25th anniversary of the regional grouping and strengthen multilateral cooperation.

The joint declaration focuses on expanding regional trade, improving transport and digital connectivity, safeguarding energy routes, and combating shared security challenges. In his address to the summit, Prime Minister Modi stressed India's core vision of security, connectivity, and opportunity for the region. He called for a united stand against terrorism, urging member nations to dismantle terror financing, recruitment, and safe havens without double standards, while reiterating that conflicts cannot be resolved on the battlefield and must be settled through dialogue and diplomacy.

The summit took place against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions, including ongoing military clashes between the United States and Iran in West Asia and the war in Ukraine. Alongside the main declaration, the gathering provided a platform for crucial bilateral discussions among Eurasian leaders, focusing on stabilizing regional supply chains, enhancing economic partnerships, and maintaining navigation and trade security across regional waters.