From August 30 to September 3, President Xi Jinping attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2026 in Bishkek and paid state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt. The trip was conducted against the backdrop of major milestones in China's relations with its partners.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO. Over the past 25 years, the SCO has grown from an organization of six founding members to a big family spanning 27 countries across three continents—Asia, Europe and Africa. It has expanded its focus from regional security to more than 50 areas of cooperation and become the most extensive, populous and promising comprehensive regional cooperation organization in the world. The Bishkek Summit brought together member states, observer states and dialogue partners to discuss major issues such as security governance, economic and trade connectivity and people-to-people exchange.

Kyrgyzstan is a founding member of the SCO and a close neighbor of China. Both sides have made solid progress in carrying out major joint projects. Landmark connectivity projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway are steadily advancing, opening up new land-sea connectivity channels in the region, activating the development potential of landlocked countries and facilitating more convenient and efficient trade and logistics across Eurasia.

Xi's state visit to Egypt was his first since 2016 and was made as the two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As a major country with significant influence in the Arab world and on the African continent, Egypt has always stood shoulder to shoulder with China, and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt has become a model of China-Africa and Sino-Arab cooperation. The two countries have upheld guidance from their top leaders, consolidated strategic mutual trust, and maintained close coordination on international and regional hotspot issues.

Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, key projects such as the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone are continuously advancing, and cooperation in industrial and supply chains has been further intensified. Other achievements have been made in infrastructure, new energy, food security and aerospace technology, bringing tangible benefits to both countries.

Peace and development remain the underlying themes of our times. The consensus and achievements reached during Xi's trip once again demonstrate that unity and cooperation are the correct path for addressing global challenges. BR