SCO Secretary-General takes part in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

On May 29-30, 2026, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Nurlan Yermekbayev took part in the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

This year's Forum brought together 550 delegates from over 40 countries, including heads of national defense agencies and international organizations. SCO Secretariat participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue for the first time.

SCO Secretary-General takes part in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

Secretary-General took part in the plenary session themed"Addressing Cross-Regional Security Threats" what provided an opportunity to inform Forum participants about the SCO's activities and the views of its member states on current issues on the international agenda. The Secretary-General emphasized that the SCO, as the largest transregional organization, makes a significant contribution to strengthening peace, security, and regional stability, and consistently advocates for the formation of a more representative and democratic world order based on the UN's central coordinating role. He noted that the SCO adheres to a line that rejects bloc-based and confrontational approaches to solving international and regional development issues. The Organisation's activities are not directed against third countries and are founded on the principles of the "Shanghai Spirit."

In the context of promoting security and stability the Secretary-General stated that the SCO applies a comprehensive approach, operating on the premise that sustainable security cannot be ensured without addressing socio-economic issues and building trust through expanded cultural and humanitarian cooperation. He spoke about the ongoing modernization of the Organisation's activities, including the creation of new specialized bodies in the security sphere. As examples of cooperation among SCO member states he introduced regular "Peace Mission" counter-terrorism exercises, the "Sahand-Antiterror-2025" exercises, and the "Web" operation. He also provided information on the political and diplomatic measures used by the Organization, including the adoption of statements on behalf of the SCO.

SCO Secretary-General takes part in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

During the Q&A session, Nurlan Yermekbayev responded to delegates' questions regarding member states' efforts to ensure regional security and development.

SCO Secretary-General takes part in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

On the sidelines of the Forum, at the initiative of the host country, a meeting took place between the Secretary-General and the Minister for Defence of the Republic of Singapore, Chan Chun Sing.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is the Asia-Pacific region's largest annual forum, first held in 2002. The Forum has established itself as a prestigious multilateral platform for discussing current issues in the fields of politics, defense, and security.