Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, an event marking the bloc's 25th anniversary. The summit comes at a time when global attention is increasingly focused on how China is expanding its strategic, energy, and economic footprint across the Eurasian region.

Analysts suggest that the primary question surrounding this year’s summit is whether the SCO can evolve into a more functional organization. While the bloc has historically been viewed as a platform for diplomatic signaling, there is growing pressure for it to address tangible regional issues, particularly as supply chain disruptions in grain and energy continue to affect global markets. The summit serves as a venue for Beijing to demonstrate its commitment to Central Asian stability and to further integrate its Eurasian strategy.

Observers note that Washington’s shifting strategic focus has created a power vacuum or, at the very least, a change in regional dynamics that China is keen to fill. The SCO, which includes a diverse range of member states, is being tested on its ability to maintain cohesion while navigating these complex international pressures. Whether the organization can move beyond symbolic cooperation to implement concrete policy changes remains the central point of discussion among regional experts.