SCO Tianjin Summit puts tech, AI, and digital governance high on the agenda

The SCO Tianjin Declaration emphasised cyber sovereignty, inclusive AI development, global cybersecurity norms, and stronger cooperation in the digital economy.
SCO 2025 Summit Famili Photo

Tech, AI, and digital issues were prominent during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on 1 December. The resulting SCO Tianjin Declaration championed the principles of cyber sovereignty and equal rights for all nations in governing the internet and AI, outlining a clear agenda for regional and global digital policy.

Here are the key highlights:

Artificial Intelligence

The SCO endorsed a push for inclusive AI development, formally backing the UN General Assembly resolution on AI capacity-building, highlighting the “equal right to develop and utilise AI.” To operationalise this vision, the declaration supports two major initiatives:

  • The establishment of a Central Asian AI Centre in Dushanbe.
  • The creation of a dedicated SCO mechanism for cooperation in AI.

This commitment was reinforced by a separate statement issued during the Summit on deepening international collaboration.

Cybersecurity

In the cybersecurity realm, the SCO focuses on the central role of the UN in establishing global norms. The Tianjin Declaration specifically called for the signing of the UN Convention on Cybercrime, signalling the organisation’s preference for a UN-led framework for international cybersecurity.

Digital Economy

To foster regional growth, the summit advanced cooperation in the digital economy. Member states adopted a formal statement on strengthening digital economic development. A key outcome was the call to establish a dedicated SCO program to enhance cooperation on e-commerce among member states.

Higher relevance

As outlined by Chinese President Xi during the Summit, the Global Governance Initiative put forward five guiding principles: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practising multilateralism, advocating the people-centred approach, and focusing on taking real actions. As tech, AI, and digital governance are two of the focus areas of the Initiative, it remains to be seen how they will impact the UN and other processes and initiatives.

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