Editor's note: Li Ziguo is director of the Institute of Eurasian Studies at the China Institute of International Studies and secretary-general of the China Center for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies. The article reflects the author's opinions and does not necessarily represent the views of CGTN.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has profoundly reshaped the geopolitical and economic landscape of Eurasia, becoming an indispensable mechanism for regional and global governance. As one of the founding members, China has always linked its own development with the development of the SCO.

Championing the 'Shanghai Spirit'

The SCO was established in Shanghai in 2001, when its founding members put forward the "Shanghai Spirit" featuring "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development." These six principles, comprising 20 Chinese characters, embody the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and China's diplomatic philosophy. They have become the foundation and key to the SCO's success.

Throughout the organization's development, China has continuously proposed new concepts to enrich and expand the contemporary meaning of the "Shanghai Spirit." These include the principles of "non-alignment, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party," the pursuit of a new security vision featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, the building of an SCO community with a shared future, and the creation of a common home featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice.

China has been a contributor to the SCO's forward-looking concepts, while the SCO has served as a platform for China to advance and practice its diplomatic ideas.

Strengthening regional security through cooperation and dialogue

The SCO has achieved extensive outcomes in security cooperation, with China playing a key role as both a participant and a driving force.

China took the lead in resolving border issues through peaceful negotiations with Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, turning thousands of miles of borders into bonds of friendship, trust and cooperation. This experience has provided a successful example for the world while removing obstacles to regional cooperation and the SCO's development.

With China's active participation and promotion, the SCO has established a comprehensive counterterrorism and security cooperation mechanism. This includes the "Peace Mission" joint counterterrorism exercises, cyber counterterrorism exercises, a series of joint exercises among border authorities, and anti-drug initiatives like "Spider Web" and "For a World Without Drugs."

These efforts have helped create a sound security environment for SCO members. China is not only one of the major initiators and active participants in SCO security cooperation but also a beneficiary of these efforts.

Powering economic cooperation for shared development

China is the largest economy among SCO members and is widely regarded as an engine driving economic and trade cooperation within the organization.

In 2001, China proposed launching negotiations on trade and investment facilitation. In 2003, the SCO adopted a multilateral economic and trade cooperation framework, putting forward a distinctive "three-step" roadmap: promoting trade and investment facilitation in the short term; establishing stable, predictable and transparent rules in the medium term; and gradually achieving the free flow of goods, capital, services and technology in the long term.

For years, China has provided preferential loans within the SCO framework, benefiting a large number of projects across member states. As of July 2025, China's outstanding investment in other SCO member states exceeded $84 billion, making it the largest source of investment and financing for countries including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

At China's initiative, the SCO signed an agreement on facilitating international road transport, complementing the Belt and Road Initiative and helping build a comprehensive transportation and logistics network among SCO countries.

Thanks to cooperation in areas such as transportation and customs, economic and trade ties among SCO members have continued to deepen. China has become the largest trading partner of eight SCO members, with Belarus being the only exception.

Tianjin Summit ushers SCO into a new era of high-quality growth

The Tianjin Summit marks a milestone in the SCO's development.

At the institutional level, the organization has launched reform efforts to better adapt to a world undergoing profound changes.

In 2025, following China's persistent efforts, the SCO Development Bank entered the preparation stage, marking a significant step in the organization's transition from a security-focused mechanism to one that places equal emphasis on both security and development. Over the past year, SCO members have conducted four rounds of consultations and reached preliminary consensus on the bank's charter and operational model.

The Tianjin Summit also decided to establish four SCO security centers: the SCO Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats, the Information Security Center, the Center for Combating Transnational Organized Crime, and the Anti-Drug Center. The drafting of the executive committee charters for these centers has largely been completed, which will significantly enhance the SCO's capacity to address emerging challenges, including cybercrime and climate change.

The summit also decided to merge observer states and dialogue partners into a unified category of SCO partners. The revised regulations on SCO partnerships are currently being advanced, which will greatly enhance partner countries' participation and sense of benefit.

In terms of cooperation areas, under China's initiative and promotion, the SCO has issued statements on artificial intelligence, technological innovation, green industries, the digital economy and sustainable energy. These emerging areas of cooperation will strengthen the organization's future-oriented competitiveness.

As a leader in fields such as artificial intelligence and green industries, China has taken early steps by establishing platforms like the China-SCO Big Data Cooperation Center, the Artificial Intelligence Application Cooperation Center, the Green Industry Cooperation Platform, the Digital Economy Cooperation Platform, the Energy Cooperation Platform, and the Science and Technology Innovation Center.

Through these platforms, China is promoting cooperation in emerging industries and technologies, creating new opportunities for SCO members through its own development and injecting fresh vitality and potential into the organization.

The SCO has successfully explored a path of multilateral cooperation, with its global influence and appeal continuing to grow. China views the SCO as an important platform for advancing neighborhood diplomacy, and the organization's role in China's overall diplomatic agenda is becoming increasingly significant.