The two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (OCX) ended this Tuesday in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, with a joint declaration from the ten member states of the bloc that represents 43% of the world population. The Bishkek Declaration advocates for a multipolar world and calls for reforms to global governance for greater representativeness of nations, as well as deepening economic, financial, security, and energy relations, including implementation of the Economic Development Strategy until 2030.
The organization condemned US attacks on Iran, stating that they "violate the principles and norms of international law," and reinforced the commitment to Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as Israel's actions in the region. The focus of the meeting was on global disruptions resulting from the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, which have been causing oil and other commodity prices to soar.
In an unexpected moment, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly addressed Vladimir Putin asking him to end the war in Ukraine, stating: "We must move from an infinite war to the end of the war." This exchange exposed internal tensions within the organization, which brings together rivals such as India and China, and Indians and Pakistanis. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the OCX to play a central role as an international platform and proposed a four-point plan to advance the Belt and Road Initiative.
In bilateral meetings, Putin and Xi are said to have discussed a natural gas pipeline linking Siberia to China, although no progress was made in the negotiations. The rotating presidency of the organization now passes to Pakistan, which will hold next year's summit in Islamabad. Turkish President Recep Erdogan, whose country has observer status, praised the growing multipolarity on the international stage.
