Published by ChinaMNC · Huinong

What the SCO Heads of Government Meeting in Dushanbe Signals for Foreign Founders Operating in China

A ChinaMNC briefing for foreign founders: Premier Li Qiang attended the 25th SCO Heads of Government Council meeting in Dushanbe, where members approved trade, investment, industrial and connectivity cooperation documents. Here is what the outcome means in practical terms for companies registered or operating in China.

Why an SCO Meeting Matters to Founders Running Companies in China

Foreign founders often treat multilateral summits as distant diplomacy. But the documents approved at these meetings can shape the environment in which cross-border trade, investment and logistics operate. On 20 October, Premier Li Qiang attended the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe. The meeting was chaired by Tajik Prime Minister Rasulzoda, and was attended by SCO member state leaders and representatives, guests of the host country and heads of relevant international organisations.

For founders with a Chinese entity, a sourcing operation, or a regional base, the practical takeaway is not the ceremony but the paperwork: after the meeting, Li Qiang and participating member state leaders signed and issued a joint communiqué, and approved cooperation documents in areas including trade and investment, industry, and connectivity, as well as resolutions related to SCO institution-building. Those are the items worth tracking.

What Was Said, and What It Means in Practice

The 25th anniversary and the Bishkek summit

Li noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO's founding, and that the September Bishkek summit produced a series of important outcomes that added new momentum to peace and development. He also noted that instability and uncertainty in the world are still increasing. For founders, this framing matters: it signals that member governments continue to prioritise regional economic cooperation even amid a more uncertain global environment.

Two levels: principles and operations

Li framed the discussion on two levels. On principles, he said members should have a clear understanding of basic questions: a vision that discerns major trends, noting that world multipolarity and economic globalisation remain the prevailing trend; a perspective that embraces the wider world, with the SCO continuing to carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit" and contributing to both regional stability and prosperity and global common development; and perseverance, given the shared desire of SCO countries to promote friendship, safeguard security and pursue development together.

On operations, Li said members should strengthen coordination and pursue practical innovation. China, he said, is willing to work with member states to improve the organisation's operational effectiveness, make cooperation projects substantive and strong, play a demonstrative role, and push the SCO toward higher-quality development, while implementing the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Two concrete commitments were stated: China is willing to strengthen coordination with all parties to complete the rules and institutional arrangements for the "four security centres" as soon as possible, and is willing to fund 1,000 medical personnel from SCO countries to come to China for training, in order to continue improving the wellbeing of people in the region.

Multilateralism and differences

Li pointed out that in recent years international calls for strengthening multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance have grown. The SCO, he said, should work to unite more international partners and play a positive role at the global level, with greater emphasis on seeking common ground while reserving differences and on pooling similarities while resolving differences. Specifically, he called for stronger economic and trade cooperation amid differences in endowments, promotion of regional economic integration, a stable and resilient international transport corridor system, and maintaining the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains. He also called for seeking common interests amid differences in demands and jointly safeguarding world peace and stability, and for promoting harmony and coexistence amid cultural differences.

What other participants said

Participating parties stated that the SCO has grown continuously over its 25 years and that its international influence has increased. They said all parties should actively implement the outcomes of the Tianjin and Bishkek summits, further carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit", strengthen communication and coordination, advance the SCO's high-quality development, and make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.

Practical Implications for Foreign Founders

This article does not create new market-access rules or tax changes, and nothing in the source announces specific benefits for individual companies. Founders should read it as a directional signal, not a rulebook. The approved cooperation documents in trade and investment, industry and connectivity indicate where member governments intend to focus coordination. For a founder operating in China, the relevant watchpoints are:

• Supply chains and transport corridors: continued emphasis on stable, resilient international transport corridor systems and on keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth is relevant to import/export planning and logistics routing.
• Regional economic integration: stated support for integration among member economies may gradually affect cross-border trade and investment facilitation, though the source gives no timetable or specific measures.
• Industry and investment cooperation: the approval of industrial and trade-investment documents signals ongoing intergovernmental workstreams; monitor implementing details published later rather than assuming immediate changes.
• Institutional development: the "four security centres" and related institution-building resolutions are organisational matters for the SCO itself, not a compliance obligation for private companies.

None of this replaces China's domestic company law, foreign investment rules, tax registration or licensing requirements. Founders should continue to base registration and operations on the current domestic legal framework and confirm details with qualified advisers.

How to Use This in Your Planning

Treat summit outcomes as context for medium-term planning. If your business depends on cross-border logistics or regional sourcing, keep a file of the cooperation areas named here — trade and investment, industry, connectivity — and check for implementing documents as they are published. If you are evaluating where to register or expand a China-based entity, the meeting does not change the core process: entity type selection, registration with the market regulator, tax and customs registration, and sector-specific licensing. What it does suggest is that intergovernmental attention to trade and connectivity remains active, which is useful background when you brief investors or partners on regional strategy.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Need help? Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.