BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 31. Kazakhstan is
currently promoting transport connectivity, regional security, and
water resource management within the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), issues of strategic importance for the entire
Central Asian region, Kazakh political scientist and professor
Dulatbek Kydyrbekuly told Trend.


"Of course, economy and trade are areas that are characteristic
of all countries. As for Kazakhstan, transport and security are
currently among the key areas. Moreover, this concerns not only
Kazakhstan but the entire Central Asian region. I would also add
water resources," he said.


The political scientist noted that China plays a leading role in
the SCO in terms of economic power, with trade with Europe across
the Eurasian continent being of particular importance to
Beijing.


"Because the delivery of goods across the continent is much
faster than through the oceans. And Kazakhstan, as a country
located in the center of Eurasia, is developing transport
infrastructure on its territory, serving as a corridor between
China and Europe and thereby contributing to the revival of the
Great Silk Road," Dulatbek Kydyrbekuly said.


He particularly emphasized that Kazakhstan’s policy within the
SCO is one of the directions of the country’s multi-vector foreign
policy.







"Using its role as a central state in the economy and a country
with experience in political mediation, Astana represents an
important player in interaction not only with the key SCO member
states," the political scientist noted.


Furthermore, he said that Kazakhstan’s policy within the SCO is
also closely linked to both bilateral and multilateral relations
with China.


Dulatbek Kydyrbekuly concluded that trade and economic
cooperation related to the development of transport hubs and
corridors is one of the areas that the SCO continues to
strengthen.


The SCO was established in 2001 and initially comprised China,
Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Over the
past 25 years, its membership has expanded to 10 countries. The
26th SCO summit will be held in Bishkek on August 31-September 1,
2026, under Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship. The meeting will focus on
the organization’s further development, strengthening economic and
transport cooperation, and security cooperation. Following the
summit, the leaders are expected to consider a number of documents
related to the development of the SCO’s financial and economic
mechanisms, including initiatives to expand settlements in national
currencies and establish new cooperation institutions.