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UN Secretary-General António Guterres told leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that the world is increasingly multipolar and that this shift constitutes a positive development which must be reinforced. He described multipolarity as a condition for justice in global governance and international relations as well as the best support for effective multilateralism. Guterres argued that a United Nations at the service of all without double standards in line with the Charter would emerge from such changes. The Secretary-General delivered his remarks in Bishkek where the grouping is marking a quarter century since its establishment in 2001.
Guterres stated that many international institutions still mirror the geopolitical landscape of 1945 even as power dynamics have evolved substantially over the decades. He called for reform of multilateral bodies including the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system to align with contemporary realities and expand the representation and influence of developing countries. Such steps would help construct a just world order according to the UN chief’s assessment shared at the event. The address formed part of broader discussions at the summit hosted by Kyrgyzstan.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization now counts 10 full members among them China India Pakistan Russia Iran Belarus Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and Uzbekistan according to United Nations statements. This composition makes the SCO one of the largest regional organizations measured by population coverage and territorial reach. In his presentation Guterres highlighted four priority domains for updated global governance encompassing security financing for development climate measures and artificial intelligence oversight.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that trade among SCO countries had reached 1 trillion dollars underscoring the bloc’s expanding economic footprint. Summit participants adopted the Bishkek Declaration which backed a more representative and just multipolar world order while endorsing stronger United Nations contributions to peace and sustainable development. Additional protocols addressed amendments to the founding charter and established operating rules for specialized centers focused on security threats and counter-narcotics efforts.
Leaders approved more than 20 separate documents covering artificial intelligence climate change energy security information protection and nuclear matters during the September 1 proceedings. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the creation of a dedicated bank to finance interregional projects in natural resources digital services and healthcare. The gathering also decided to broaden ties with the African Union as the organization rotates its chairmanship to Pakistan with the next summit set for Islamabad.
Guterres expressed appreciation for regional backing to form an independent international scientific panel and launch a global dialogue on artificial intelligence governance within the United Nations framework. He noted that artificial intelligence should deliver benefits to all countries and therefore requires appropriate safeguards. The Secretary-General’s participation reflected ongoing United Nations engagement with the SCO on shared objectives ranging from multilateral reform to practical cooperation across economic and security fields.
