Bishkek, July 27, 2026 /Kabar/. It is necessary to unite the capabilities of the expert community and the media within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and transform them into concrete integration projects. Igor Shestakov, director of the Oi Ordo center for expert initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, stated at SCO Media and Analytical Center Forum.
According to him, such events help bring the SCO closer to society and make the organization's activities more understandable.
"High hopes are pinned on SCO. We hope that the organization's influence will contribute to the return of principles of compliance with international law to the global agenda," he said.
Igor Shestakov noted that SCO countries have strong media outlets, research centers, and expert bodies. He believes this potential must now be channeled into creating joint research bases and implementing practical projects.
He believes that the main task today is to transform the expert potential of the organization's member states into tangible integration initiatives.
"The expert community's potential is enormous, but clear mechanisms for its practical implementation have not yet been established," he noted.
Shestakov emphasized that media outlets and think tanks play an important role in communicating key SCO decisions and initiatives to the public. He emphasized that close coordination between SCO structures, think tanks, and the media is essential to explaining the organization's decisions in the areas of security, counterterrorism, and extremism to the public.
Furthermore, he stated that Kyrgyzstan could become a convenient venue for holding expert and public events in border regions of SCO countries, as the republic borders China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
"With the involvement of local governments, businesses, public organizations, and the media, economic, tourism, and cultural-humanitarian projects can be developed," he said.
Shestakov also noted that over the 25 years of the SCO's existence, ties between countries have strengthened significantly. He believes that such forums help countries become not just neighbors, but friendly partners.
