Introduction. The article deals with two theoretical aspects concerning transformation of world order. First of all, Amitav Acharya’s attitude implies new order of world politics with regional order of intergovernmental and non-governmental ties. Secondly, traditional international organizations tend to have unclear prospect due to turbulency of changes. Consequently, their future and sustainable development depend on adjustment to new conditions. In 2026, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) celebrates its 25th anniversary, which has become an opportunity to examine certain aspects of its history. Materials and methods. The historical and genetic method and the theory of new regionalism by B. Hettne and F. Soderbaum have been implemented in the research. The source base is formed by SCO documents, media materials, data from the Roscongress Foundation digest, and statements by politicians. Analysis. Since 2001 SCO evolution has been associated with the process of expansion and change in functional focus. The organization was focused on regional security issues, whereas now the focus has shifted to economic relations, logistics and financial independence. SCO geography has been widened with India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus accession. New participants have made the geopolitical rank of the organization higher but also have created new complexities. Central Asia remains the core region, but the SCO must act and coordinate its policies within a new spatial framework. Therefore, it turned out to be more functional for China to begin building relations with the Central Asian republics through the strategic China - Central Asia format. Results. Since 2001 the novelties in quantity and quality shifts have raised the issue of leadership within the organization to a new level. One possible model for Russia and China under these circumstances could be asymmetrical leadership, the potential of which requires careful study.