Political Cooperation within the SCO: Relevance, Responses to Modern Challenges, and Development Prospects

The article delves into the fundamental aspects of political interaction among a group of countries as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). It examines the organization’s achievements, such as the establishment of key principles – the “Shanghai Spirit” and “consensus”; the signing of the “Treaty on Long- Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation among the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”; and the formulation of the Medium-Term Development Strategy for expansion and diversification of participants. Additionally, it highlights the significance of the Sino-Russian interaction as a pivotal element of SCO activities, emphasizing their comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era as a guarantee of the union’s stability. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that over more than 20 years of development, the SCO has evolved into a new type of regional cooperation organization with advanced interaction concepts and significant international influence, the experience of which could inform the prospects for global cooperation.