SCO Media and Think Tank Summit Opens in Kyrgyzstan

The SCO 2026 Media and Think Tank Summit opened on [date] at the Ala-Archa-1 State Residence in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, under the theme "The Significance of the Shanghai Spirit in the New Era: From Consensus on Values to Practical Cooperation." The event brought together executives and journalists from international media organizations, local Kyrgyz media reported. Around 260 representatives from nearly 150 mainstream media outlets, prominent think tanks, government departments of SCO member states, and the SCO Secretariat attended the summit.

Mehr Media Group is present as the only representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the summit and will participate in specialized panels and bilateral meetings. The forum aims to explore ways to strengthen cooperation between media organizations and think tanks from different countries, introduce innovative communication methods, jointly promote coverage of cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), effectively counter disinformation, and enhance the organization's influence and voice on the international stage.

According to the forum's program documents, the summit seeks to build consensus on values and translate them into practical cooperation. CEO of Mehr Media Group Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati delivered a speech at the event, which is being covered in a separate news item by Mehr. The summit is expected to continue for [duration] and will feature panel discussions and bilateral meetings. According to Mehr News Agency, the event underscores the growing role of media and think tanks in shaping SCO cooperation.