This mechanism of cooperation between SCO countries was established in 2021 at the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to implement the Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in the Sphere of Digitalisation and ICT, adopted on 14 June 2019, and the Statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on Cooperation in the Digital Economy, adopted on 10 November 2020.
Overall, four such meetings have been held. The first meeting was held via videoconference at the initiative and under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan on 25 November 2021. The second videoconference was held on 13 May 2023 and chaired by India. The third meeting was held on 1 February 2024 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, under the chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The fourth meeting was held on 17 June 2025 in Karamay, China, and chaired by the People’s Republic of China.
In accordance with the concept, this group has the following tasks:
– to draft international documents;
– to exchange knowledge and experience, to carry out joint research by the member states’ research and educational establishments and organisations, as well as to attract digitalisation and ICT experts;
– to hold joint events aimed at the development of human capital in the fields of digitalisation and ICT;
– to exchange the experience of using new information technology in state governance and business, as well as in public relations;
– to create conditions for interaction, establishment of partner relations and subsequent cooperation in the sphere of ICT between companies/organisations of the SCO member states;
– to implement joint projects in innovation clusters and technology parks of the SCO member states using high-tech and science-intensive solutions and digital technologies;
– to exchange the experience of the incubation and acceleration of start-ups.
The functions of coordinating the preparation and holding these meetings have been assigned to the Special Working Group on Information and Telecommunication Technologies established in 2006.
The main result of the operation of this cooperation mechanism was the adoption of the programmes of cooperation between the authorised bodies of the SCO member states for the development of digital literacy and artificial intelligence (2022, Samarkand). As a follow-up to these documents, the SCO Heads of Government Council approved a programme of cooperation in the digital economy (1 November 2022).
During a meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Council held in New Delhi in 2023, a Statement on Cooperation in Digital Transformation was adopted.
The first SCO Digital Forum was held in February 2024 in Almaty.
Following the 4th meeting of the heads of ministries and agencies responsible for the development of ICT, chaired by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in Karamay on 17 June 2025, the parties adopted an action plan for digital transformation. The annual China-SCO Digital Technology Development and Cooperation Forum, which is held at China’s initiative in Karamay, has become a respected venue for exchanging experience and demonstrating achievements in the field of digital technology. The third forum was held on 17 June 2025.
During the Tianjin Summit held on 1 September 2025 in China, the SCO Council of Heads of State adopted a Statement on Strengthening Digital Economic Development.
Legal framework:
– Regulations on meetings of heads of ministries and/or agencies of SCO member states (approved by decision of the SCO leaders on 29 May 2003);
– Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in the Sphere of Digitalisation and ICT (adopted by the SCO Heads of State Council, 14 June 2019, Bishkek);
– Statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on Cooperation in the Digital Economy (10 November 2020, Moscow);
– Programme of cooperation between the authorised bodies of the SCO member states for the development of digital literacy (adopted by the SCO Heads of State Council, 15-16 September 2022, Samarkand);
– Programme of cooperation between the authorised bodies of the SCO member states for the development of artificial intelligence (adopted by the SCO Heads of State Council, 15-16 September 2022, Samarkand);
– Programme of cooperation of the SCO member states in the digital economy (adopted by the SCO Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers), 1 November 2022, via videoconference and chaired by the Chinese side);
– Statement on Cooperation in Digital Transformation (adopted by the SCO Heads of State Council, 4 July 2023, via videoconference and chaired by India);
– Action plan of the SCO member states for digital transformation (17 June 2025, Karamay, China);
– Statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on Strengthening Cooperation in the Digital Economy (1 September 2025, Tianjin).