Around 260 participants represent nearly 150 top media organizations, leading think tanks, and government bodies from SCO member countries, including the SCO Secretariat.

During the summit’s opening, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, Head of the Information Policy Service of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, emphasized that media and think tanks play a crucial role in shaping public opinion, building trust, and maintaining security among nations. He expressed hope that the summit would boost information security within the SCO, promote cooperation among scholars and experts, and strengthen cultural ties.

In her remarks, Deputy Director General of Xinhua News Agency Xi Yanchun emphasized that Xinhua consistently strives to tell the SCO’s stories and amplify its voice. According to her, the media and think tanks should continue to serve as bridges within the organization, promote unity and mutual trust, act as a driving force for development and prosperity, build bridges for people-to-people exchanges, champion multilateralism, and pioneer practical cooperation.

Director of the Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar Mederbek Shermetaliev noted that the SCO member states should jointly establish a mechanism for regular dialogue among think tanks, develop collaborative research, train young experts, expand exchanges of experience among media professionals, and consistently deepen intellectual, informational, and humanitarian cooperation.

Liu Jiangping, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kyrgyzstan, noted that media and think tanks serve not only as chroniclers of their times but also as advocates for cooperation. She emphasized that collaboration between these groups has become a crucial means of implementing the “Shanghai Spirit”.

According to Kadyrbek Sarbayev, Senior Expert at the SCO Secretariat, the current summit will contribute to the development of exchanges and cooperation between the media and think tanks within the organization, as well as to the organization’s long-term development.

Mirzokhid Rakhimov, Head of the Department at the Center for Contemporary History of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, emphasized that the SCO should leverage the extensive heritage of civilizational interactions along the Great Silk Road. He suggested that broadening contacts between think tanks could help enhance regional connectivity, promote sustainable development, and ensure stability.

The 2026 SCO Media and Think Tank Summit will take place in Bishkek from July 26 to 30, organized by China’s Xinhua News Agency and Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar.