Xi Attends SCO Summit in Bishkek as Bloc Issues Nuclear Safety Declaration

Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Bishkek to attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, accompanied by senior officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chief of Staff Cai Qi. Alongside the summit, Xi is conducting state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. During the gathering, SCO leaders adopted a joint declaration emphasizing multilateral partnerships in nuclear safety and security, explicitly affirming that national governments bear sole responsibility for their domestic nuclear security.

The diplomatic mission links regional multilateral diplomacy in Central Asia with high-level outreach to the Middle East. By securing a joint declaration on nuclear safety and security within the SCO framework, Beijing and its regional partners are establishing shared standards on critical non-proliferation and facility protection issues while reinforcing the principle of state sovereignty over strategic assets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping departed Beijing on August 30 to attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, according to state media reports. Alongside the multilateral meeting, Xi is conducting state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt upon the invitations of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Xi was accompanied by high-level Chinese officials, including Peng Liyuan, Politburo Standing Committee member and Director of the General Office Cai Qi, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During the summit in Bishkek, the SCO Council of Heads of State adopted a formal declaration on strengthening multilateral partnerships in nuclear safety and nuclear security. According to the document published by Xinhua, member states reaffirmed their adherence to the SCO Charter, the United Nations Charter, and recognized principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs. The declaration specifically underscored that the primary responsibility for nuclear security rests entirely with sovereign states. It also noted that nuclear safety responsibilities are borne by the operating bodies of nuclear facilities and the states in which those facilities are situated. Member states highlighted nuclear safety and security as critical international security elements that directly affect the populations of SCO countries. The declaration addressed shared risks, including the illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials and potential threats targeting nuclear installations. Xi's dual-track diplomatic mission reflects China's dual focus on multilateral regional frameworks and bilateral ties across Eurasia and the Middle East. After concluding summit activities in Bishkek, the delegation proceeds with state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt, aiming to advance bilateral cooperation in trade, regional stability, and infrastructure.