On June 6–7, 2026, the SCO Think Tank Forum was held in Shanghai, China, under the theme: “The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Context of Deep International Transformation: Responding to Challenges and Moving Forward.” The event brought together renowned experts and diplomats from 10 countries, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Italy, as well as representatives of international organizations, including those affiliated with the UN system.
Speaking at the main plenary session SCO Deputy Secretary-General Oleg Kopylov emphasized the importance of systematically engaging member states’ think tanks in the Organisation’s activities to ensure the stable functioning of the “second track” — particularly significant given the ongoing efforts to enhance the SCO’s effectiveness and role on the international stage. In this context, he noted the continuity between the agenda of China’s previous chairmanship and Kyrgyzstan’s current chairmanship of the SCO, aimed at achieving concrete results in member states’ cooperation.
Among the key speakers, former SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov addressed the participants, providing a detailed analysis of cooperation opportunities with a focus on economic projects in both traditional and innovative sectors.
On the sidelines of the forum representatives of the Secretariat held talks with Zheng Shaohua, President of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, as well as with several heads of delegations. Discussions centered on opportunities to strengthen sectoral ties within the “SCO family.”
The SCO Think Tank Forum in Shanghai is a reputable expert platform organized on the basis of the SCO Legal Training and Cooperation Center since 2020, in cooperation with Shanghai University of Political Science and Law and the China Institute of International Studies.
