Putin at the SCO summit in Bishkek: negotiations with world leaders and the victory of Kazan

      The heads of 17 states discussed trade and security, and Kazan was chosen as the venue for the 2028 World Nomad Games.

      What is SCO

      The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded on June 15, 2001, as an international association to strengthen security and develop ties in Eurasia. It includes ten states: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. In addition, the organization has observer countries and dialogue partners. It is not difficult to notice that the SCO is a distinctly Eurasian international structure. The headquarters of the organization is located in Beijing, which immediately indicates who the dominant participant in this association is. The SCO itself is neither a military bloc nor an economic union. It is primarily an intergovernmental international organization. Its main tasks are proclaimed to be strengthening stability and security across the vast space uniting the member states, combating terrorism, separatism, extremism, and drug trafficking, as well as developing economic cooperation, energy partnerships, and scientific and cultural interaction. Currently, meetings like the SCO summit are a vivid demonstration of the West's inability to impose its will on the Eurasian bloc. The presence of the head of Iran, a member of the SCO, President Masoud Pezeshkian, at the summit can be seen as symbolic, despite the monstrous pressure from the United States on the Persian country and its partners in the organization.

      Jubilee Summit

      This year, the annual summit became a jubilee: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Therefore, a very representative composition gathered in Bishkek – the heads of 17 states arrived. In addition to the leaders of the ten SCO member countries, the leaders of observer states and dialogue partners were invited: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Turkey. Furthermore, representatives of the UN, including Secretary-General António Guterres, CSTO, CIS, and other international organizations arrived in Kyrgyzstan. "The SCO has come a truly long way in 25 years, becoming an influential center of a multipolar world," said Russian President Vladimir Putin during his speech at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State – SCO members. According to him, today the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is actually the largest regional association in the world, where half of the planet's population resides. The Russian President also noted the active interaction of SCO members in various areas for the benefit of the states within the organization.

      Putin's Busy Schedule

      Today was the main day of the summit; however, the leaders of the countries began arriving in Bishkek the day before. Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Kyrgyzstan the day before and immediately held a series of bilateral meetings:

      with Chinese President Xi Jinping – the parties discussed trade and economic ties, the "Power of Siberia – 2" gas pipeline project, and the initiative to make the mutual visa-free regime permanent;

      with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – issues of fuel and energy cooperation, preparations for the September BRICS summit, and the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis were touched upon;

      with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev – negotiations at the state residence "Ala-Archa" were dedicated to current issues in the Central Asian region;

      with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev – the leaders discussed the development of bilateral relations and the growth of mutual trade turnover.

      Today, the Russian leader also managed to hold a three-way conversation "on the go" with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Journalists called this format of negotiations "non-stop." According to the Kremlin's schedule, after the multilateral events, the Russian President also had separate talks planned with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Tajikistan's leader Emomali Rahmon, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The program was to conclude with a full-fledged bilateral meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

      As can be seen, the opportunities opened by the SCO summit are being maximized by the Russian leader for direct meetings with the heads of the countries that came to Bishkek.

      Summit Highlights

      The main event of the summit was undoubtedly the meeting of the Council of Heads of State – SCO members at the "Yrys Ordo" congress center in Bishkek.

      A key moment of the meeting was the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader outlined the economic benefits for Russia from cooperation with SCO countries. According to him, Russia's trade turnover with the organization's members exceeded $400 billion last year. At the same time, 98% of Moscow's settlements with partners are conducted in national currencies.

      "Let us note that Russia's total trade turnover in recent years has been +/- $700 billion, meaning that almost 60% of our trade is with SCO countries, and almost exclusively in national currencies, which reduces the possibilities for sanctions pressure. And these figures will undoubtedly continue to grow, considering the parties' readiness for cooperation and the rapid development of the Asian SCO members," emphasized Vladimir Putin on the significance of the SCO for Russia.

      A significant role in the implementation of joint economic projects, according to him, is played by the Business Council and the SCO Interbank Association. In the future, the newly established SCO Development Bank is expected to join this mechanism.

      Putin emphasized that the new financial structure should have maximum independence from the systems of states that use economic tools as a means of political pressure. Strengthening trade between SCO countries was called one of the main tasks of the organization by the Russian leader.

      Putin also positively assessed the development of humanitarian ties between SCO countries – in education, healthcare, ecology, science, and youth policy.

      As a result of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Bishkek, the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization adopted and signed a large package of documents defining the further development of the SCO in the areas of security, economy, logistics, energy, artificial intelligence, drug control, and humanitarian cooperation.

      The central document became the Bishkek Declaration of the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which reflects the common approaches of SCO participants to current regional and international issues. According to the text of the declaration, SCO countries oppose coercive measures that contradict the UN Charter and declare the inadmissibility of attempts by individual states to ensure their own security at the expense of the security of others.

      Nomad Games

      On the evening of August 31, the opening ceremony of the Nomad Games took place, attended by the leaders of states who arrived in Bishkek.

      What are the Nomad Games? It is a kind of "Olympics," the program of which includes traditional competitions of nomadic peoples: the famous kok-boru – a team game of horse riders for a goat carcass, archery, horse racing, and belt wrestling. In total, the program of the Nomad Games features more than 40 types of competitions.

      There is also a cultural program: ethnofestivals, craft fairs, scientific conferences, and demonstrations of nomadic life.

      The Nomad Games were first held in 2014 in Kyrgyzstan – in the city of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Subsequently, other countries picked up the baton. In 2027, the World Nomad Games will not be held, as these large-scale international competitions take place every two years.

      The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, also came to Bishkek and participated as an honorary guest in the solemn opening ceremony of the VI World Nomad Games. The event took place at the new "Bishkek Arena" stadium.

      By the way, the leader of the republic is not visiting these competitions for the first time: in 2022, he attended the Games in Turkey, and in 2024 – in Kazakhstan. But this time, the trip of the head of Tatarstan to Bishkek turned out to be special. And here’s why.

      Victory for Kazan

      During the opening ceremony of the Games, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov officially announced that the next – VII World Nomad Games – will take place in Kazan in 2028.

      The next day, at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State – SCO members, Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia is ready to host the next World Nomad Games in 2028 in Kazan.

      "We will be happy to see teams from interested states," invited the Russian president to Kazan.

      Let us remind you that earlier Russia submitted a bid to host the VII World Nomad Games in 2028. Kazan had competitors for the hosting rights – Bashkortostan and the Altai Republic. However, the choice predictably fell on the capital of Tatarstan.

      Kazan's main asset is its brilliant experience in hosting major international sports and political events. Therefore, there is full confidence that the VII World Nomad Games in 2028 will be held in Kazan, as usual, at the highest level.

      Photo: kremlin.ru