Historical Organization
SCO Council of Heads of State
SCO Council of Heads of State
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Organization Timeline
Ufa Declaration restates the SCO’s sovereign-equality agenda
đź“… 10 July 2015The heads of state presented the Organisation as a vehicle for regional cooperation and a more representative international order. This is evidence of an official diplomatic position, not proof that...
Tashkent Declaration marks the SCO’s fifteenth anniversary
📅 24 June 2016The declaration reviewed the Organisation’s first fifteen years and reaffirmed its principles of mutual trust, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and common development. These...
Astana Declaration sets the agenda for an enlarged SCO
📅 9 June 2017The declaration addressed security, economic cooperation, international affairs, cultural exchange, and the Organisation’s further development. It became the first summit declaration after India and...
Qingdao hosts the first summit after enlargement
đź“… 9 June 2018The heads of state met in Qingdao with India and Pakistan participating as full members for the first time. Observer-state and international-organisation representatives also attended, showing the...
Qingdao Declaration restates the SCO's regional programme
đź“… 10 June 2018The declaration reaffirmed the Charter, the Shanghai Spirit, security cooperation and economic, cultural and humanitarian ties. It framed the enlarged SCO as a regional institution seeking a more...
Bishkek hosts the 2019 SCO heads-of-state summit
đź“… 13 June 2019The two-day summit brought together the eight member states and observer leaders, including Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. The setting made the SCO's post-enlargement composition visible...
Bishkek Declaration affirms sovereign equality and cooperation
đź“… 14 June 2019The declaration reiterated the Shanghai Spirit, cooperation under the UN Charter, regional security, trade and cultural ties. It presents the SCO as an alternative diplomatic forum while leaving...
SCO heads of state meet by videoconference
đź“… 10 November 2020The leaders met online under Russia's chairmanship, with observer-state leaders and the UN Secretary-General also participating. The format reflected the pandemic while keeping the annual summit...
Moscow Declaration frames the SCO as a pillar of a plural order
đź“… 10 November 2020The declaration reaffirmed sovereignty, civilisational diversity, the UN Charter and cooperation across security, trade and culture. Such language articulated autonomy from Western-led hierarchies,...
Dushanbe summit marks twenty years of the SCO
đź“… 17 September 2021The heads of state met in Dushanbe and adopted the anniversary declaration. The document recounts institutional development, affirms state sovereignty and non-interference, and sets priorities...
SCO leaders adopt food-security statement
đź“… 17 September 2021At the Dushanbe summit, leaders issued a joint statement on food security. It connected agricultural coordination and resilient food systems to regional cooperation; it records commitments rather than...
SCO members approve a cooperation agreement on youth work
📅 17 September 2021The Dushanbe summit adopted an agreement on cooperation among member states in work with youth, adding a social and educational dimension to the anniversary summit’s institutional programme.
Iran signs memorandum of obligations for SCO accession
đź“… 16 September 2022At Samarkand, Iran signed a memorandum setting out its obligations on the path to full membership. The step formalized an accession process but did not make Iran a full member until 2023.
Samarkand summit adopts a new declaration
đź“… 16 September 2022The heads of state adopted the Samarkand Declaration, emphasizing sovereign equality, dialogue, connectivity, and wider cooperation. Its language presents the SCO as a multipolar institution; analysis...
SCO statement addresses reliable supply chains
đź“… 16 September 2022The heads of state issued a statement on reliable, sustainable, and diversified supply chains, placing trade and logistics resilience on the SCO agenda during global disruption.
New Delhi summit completes Iran’s accession
📅 4 July 2023The heads of state completed the procedure for Iran to become a full SCO member, expanding the organization to nine members. Accession changed the institution’s membership but did not itself resolve...
SCO adopts statement on digital transformation
đź“… 4 July 2023The heads of state adopted a statement on digital transformation, recognizing digital technologies as a field for cooperation and development. Implementation and equitable access remained national and...
SCO leaders adopt the New Delhi Declaration
📅 4 July 2023The heads of state adopted the New Delhi Declaration and a package of other documents at India’s virtual summit, setting out priorities across security, economic, cultural, and international...
SCO statement targets radicalisation
📅 4 July 2023The heads of state adopted a statement on countering radicalisation leading to terrorism, separatism, and extremism. A decolonial reading notes how the organization’s security vocabulary centers...
Astana summit admits Belarus and adopts a new declaration
đź“… 4 July 2024At its twenty-fourth meeting, the Council of Heads of State admitted Belarus as a full member, adopted the Astana Declaration, and approved a package of decisions. The enlargement brought the...
Laos receives SCO dialogue partner status
📅 1 September 2025At the Tianjin summit, leaders decided to grant Laos the status of SCO dialogue partner. This expanded the organization’s external-partner network without making Laos a member state.
Tianjin summit adopts a development strategy to 2035
📅 1 September 2025The twenty-fifth Council of Heads of State met in Tianjin and adopted 24 documents, including the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy to 2035. The declaration’s multipolar and...
Bishkek summit adopts anniversary declaration and new institutional measures
đź“… 1 September 2026The twenty-sixth Council of Heads of State and SCO Plus meeting adopted the Bishkek Declaration and a package of 28 documents. Leaders approved charter amendments and measures establishing a universal...