On 5 February 2026, Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, met with Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing.
During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on the topical issues of the SCO's current work in 2026, with a special focus on the preparations for the upcoming meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council, which is scheduled to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in the autumn of 2026.
Nurlan Yermekbayev stressed that the upcoming summit is of special significance, as it will be held in the year marking the 25th anniversary of the SCO’s establishment. In this context, the substantive importance of the Chairmanship's theme – "25 years of the SCO: together for a stable world, development, and prosperity" – was noted.
The two sides exchanged opinions on the potential for the implementation of Iran's initiatives in the fields of transport, economy, energy and other sectors.
The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the need to unlock the potential of the SCO Secretariat, elevate its role in the Organization’s operations, and expand the terms of reference of the SCO Secretary-General. He also noted that it is expedient to continue the practice of the Secretariat submitting proposals to SCO member states for their consideration on various aspects of cooperation and the further improvement of the SCO’s work.
The meeting also discussed certain aspects of the implementation of joint initiatives in the fields of regional security, economic partnership and the institutional consolidation of the Organization.