Xi Jinping urges SCO to expand global role in tech and security

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation should take on a larger global role in technology and security, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, calling the Eurasian bloc a group with vast untapped potential. Speaking at the SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Xi said the organisation had shown “strong vitality” since its founding 25 years ago, adding that the bloc’s history offered “sobering lessons of the Cold War.” In an apparent reference to Washington’s network of military alliances, Xi said a key lesson from the group’s quarter-century of cooperation was the need for a new approach to global security—one not defined by bloc confrontation. He did not name the United States directly. Xi’s remarks come as the SCO, which includes China, Russia, and several Central Asian states, seeks to position itself as a counterweight to Western-led institutions. He called on member states to deepen coordination on emerging technologies and joint security efforts, arguing that the group could play a more decisive role in shaping international rules in these fields. The summit continues through Wednesday, with leaders expected to discuss trade, connectivity, and regional stability.