Advancing India’s Vision for a Safer and Connected Eurasia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 31 August–1 September 2026, marked an important step towards strengthening regional cooperation. As the SCO commemorated its 25th anniversary, India reaffirmed its vision of a more secure, connected, innovative and prosperous Eurasian region through dialogue, cooperation and shared growth.
Strengthening Regional Security and Cooperation
The summit placed strong emphasis on regional security, with enhanced cooperation against terrorism, extremism, organised crime and transnational security threats. New initiatives to counter drug addiction, synthetic drugs, precursor diversion and cross-border narcotics networks further strengthened the SCO’s collective security agenda.
Cooperation also expanded into emerging and strategic areas, including Artificial Intelligence, energy security, climate change, disaster management and connectivity. India highlighted the importance of energy conservation, modernisation and resilient energy systems, alongside climate adaptation and capacity-building.
Major SCO Decisions
The Bishkek Declaration marked the SCO’s 25th anniversary, accompanied by four MoUs and more than 20 decisions and statements. Among the significant outcomes were the inclusion of English as an official SCO language, establishment of a Universal Centre for Countering Security Threats and an SCO Anti-Narcotics Centre.
The summit also advanced drug-control programmes through 2030, while establishing new cooperation frameworks for energy systems and efficiency, climate change and artificial intelligence.
India’s Priorities: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity
India’s engagement at the SCO centred on three key priorities—Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. These priorities reflect India’s broader objective of strengthening trade linkages while respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India also announced new initiatives, including the SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum, SCO Young Scientist Forum and Young Author’s Conclave. India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum later this year.
Looking Ahead
PM Modi’s SCO visit reinforces India’s commitment to transforming dialogue into practical deliverables, fostering stronger regional partnerships and contributing to a safer, more connected and opportunity-rich Eurasia.