Presentation of Rashid Alimov’s Book takes place in Beijing

On June 19, 2026, the presentation of Rashid Alimov’s book titled “The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: From a Regional Mechanism to a Global Factor” took place at the China National Convention Center as part of the 32nd Beijing International Book Fair. The author, Rashid Alimov is the Doctor of Political Science and ex-Secretary General of the SCO (2016-2018). The publication, released by the Russian publishing house “Ves Mir” with the information support of the international media network TV BRICS, is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the SCO.

The event was attended by Dr. Rashid Alimov, author of the book and ex-Secretary General of the SCO, Oleg Zimarin, Director General of the publishing house “Ves Mir”, Ahmad Saidmurodzoda, Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO; Wang Kaiwen, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Kyrgyzstan and former Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO; Li Yafang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the China International Communications Group (CICG) and President of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS); Professor Hu Zhenhua, Honorary Dean of the Institute of Central Asian Studies and a renowned expert on the Kyrgyz epic Manas; Professor Yang Bo, Deputy Director of the Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation at Shanghai International Studies University and expert on Russian and Central Asian issues; Yin Shuguang, former Chief Correspondent of People’s Daily in Central Asia and former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Wen Wei Po (Hong Kong), Victoria Khu, co-founder of SCOLAR Network, as well as representatives of TV BRICS, diplomatic corps, academic and expert circles.

Opening the presentation, Oleg Zimarin, Director General of the publishing house “Ves Mir”, noted that it has become a good tradition for the publishing house to release books for major SCO anniversaries. “The book ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Establishment, Development, Prospects’ by Rashid Alimov was timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the SCO. For the 20th anniversary, we released a book entitled ‘Twenty Years of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’, prepared in collaboration with the Shijie Zhishi Publishing House. And now we are presenting a publication dedicated to the 25th anniversary. I am confident that there are many more glorious dates ahead for this remarkable organisation,” he emphasised.

In his speech, Rashid Alimov noted the symbolic significance of the presentation in Beijing – the city where the SCO Secretariat is located. He recalled that over the past quarter-century, the Organisation has come a long way from the “Shanghai Five”, created to address border issues, to one of the most representative international organisations, uniting nearly half of the world’s population. “The SCO is more than just an international organisation. It is a laboratory of the future where the principles of fairer international relations are crystallised. Here, every voice is valued, here countries know how to listen to each other, here large and small states work on equal terms,” said the author.

In his remarks Deputy Secretary-General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda, on behalf of SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, expressed gratitude to Rashid Alimov for his significant personal contribution to the development of the Organisation, as well as for his unwavering attention and genuine interest in its activities. The symbolic nature of the book’s release during the 25th anniversary year of the SCO was also highlighted.

Wang Kaiwen, who worked alongside Rashid Alimov for many years, highly praised his professionalism, efficiency, and literary talent, which extends beyond diplomatic themes. He noted that this is already Alimov’s fifth monograph on the SCO over the past decade and warmly congratulated his old friend. Wang Kaiwen also revealed that Alimov had recently completed work on a book entitled “Chinese Notebooks”, expressing hope that this new work would soon be available to readers.

Li Yafang emphasised that today the SCO has become the largest regional organisation, uniting 27 states and carrying out cooperation in more than 50 areas. She called for continued adherence to the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, mutual benefit, and respect for civilisational diversity, deepening cultural dialogue and the exchange of experience among member states.

Professor Hu Zhenhua, despite his venerable age of 95, personally attended the event, congratulated Rashid Alimov, and shared memories of their many years of academic friendship.

At the conclusion of the presentation, a representative of the International Media Network TV BRICS, Stanislava Erokhina, confirmed the intention to continue providing information coverage for such significant events.

The presentation of the new book became one of the key events of the 32nd Beijing International Book Fair, which ran from June 18 to 21 and brought together more than 1,700 exhibitors from 82 countries and regions around the world.