1 September 2026

                                                                                                                                                              Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation continued in the SCO Plus format.

Addressing the summit participants, the President commended the high effectiveness of Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship of the SCO.

– Kyrgyzstan has put forward a substantive agenda, bringing together our efforts and proposals under the common motto “Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.” I am confident that the outcomes of the Bishkek Summit will give fresh impetus to the achievement of our shared goals and further strengthen the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as one of the key pillars of stability across the Eurasian space, – the Head of State said.

In his remarks, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted a common strategic objective – the formation of a world order in which the cult of force and confrontation gives way to mutual responsibility, shared development and long-term cooperation.

– The SCO’s many years of experience convincingly demonstrate that the “Shanghai Spirit” represents an exemplary model of such cooperation on the international stage. The principles of equality and consensus underpinning the work of our Organisation have rightfully become the “gold standard” for the successful advancement of multilateral cooperation and genuine multilateralism. I therefore propose that the key principles of the SCO be enshrined in a special resolution of the United Nations General Assembly dedicated to the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, – the President said.

According to the Head of State, the large-scale political and economic reforms carried out in Kazakhstan in recent years have been a response to contemporary global challenges.

– The new Constitution, which entered into force on 1 July, has laid a solid foundation for Kazakhstan’s sustainable development. Its provisions have established a qualitatively new system of state governance. These transformations are aimed at strengthening socio-economic resilience and building a Just and Progressive Kazakhstan. A new legislative body – the unicameral Kurultai – has begun its work, – he said.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked his counterparts for their congratulations on the successful implementation of the reforms and the holding of elections to the Kurultai. He also reaffirmed the continuity of Kazakhstan’s balanced, constructive and peace-oriented foreign policy.

The President then presented his vision for further improving the work of the United Nations.

– The United Nations is subject to considerable criticism. Even if some of this criticism is justified, it does not alter the main point – there is no alternative to this Organisation. Our common task is to strengthen it and enhance its effectiveness. Close cooperation between the UN and regional formats, including, of course, the SCO, serves this purpose. Kazakhstan believes that the United Nations must remain at the core of the international system, while its Charter must continue to serve as the universal foundation of international law, – the President stressed.

The Head of State noted that Kazakhstan highly values the contribution of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to upholding international law. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the reform launched at the initiative of the Secretary-General should make the Organisation more effective and results-oriented while preserving its universal character. At the same time, the success of these transformations depends on the political will and responsibility of the Member States.

The President also placed particular emphasis on the growing role of responsible middle powers.

– I believe that they can and should contribute to dialogue between different centres and to the development of collective solutions. Their positions and initiatives should be reflected in global governance mechanisms. Kazakhstan is ready to actively contribute to this process. The institutional renewal of the United Nations is impossible without strengthening preventive diplomacy. Collective efforts are needed to foster a culture of conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In line with this approach, in July of this year Kazakhstan supported the initiative of the People’s Republic of China by becoming a party to the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation, – the President said.

According to the Head of State, global stability increasingly depends on the responsible development of artificial intelligence.

– Universal rules are needed to unlock the constructive potential of artificial intelligence, prevent its uncontrolled use and narrow the digital divide. At Kazakhstan’s initiative, the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Centre for Digital Solutions will be established in Almaty. The Centre can and should contribute to scaling up best practices, primarily for the benefit of developing countries, – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Water security was identified as one of the priorities on the global agenda.

– Reliable access to water is a determining factor for food, energy and social stability, as well as economic development. However, global water governance remains fragmented. Dozens of UN entities deal with water-related issues, yet there is still no universal intergovernmental organisation with a comprehensive mandate. Kazakhstan has therefore proposed establishing an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations. Its task would not be to duplicate existing mechanisms, but to coordinate efforts, ensure continuous intergovernmental dialogue, mobilise resources and develop coordinated solutions. A regional complement to this global initiative could be an SCO Centre for Water Issues Analysis. I count on the support of the SCO Member States both for the establishment of the International Water Organization within the United Nations framework and for the creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Centre for Water Issues Analysis, – the President of Kazakhstan said.

In conclusion, the Head of State emphasised that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has every reason and opportunity to ensure the long-term and successful development of states across a vast part of the Eurasian continent.

– Our shared responsibility is to establish the principles of equal and indivisible security, sovereign equality and mutual respect as an integral part of international relations. I am confident that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will make a worthy contribution to building a safer and more sustainable world order, and Kazakhstan will work constructively with all partner states within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation precisely in this spirit and in this direction, – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev concluded.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-budapest/press/news/details/1284630?lang=ru