Leaders Gather for Landmark SCO Summit in Tianjin
On August 31, 2025, leaders from over 20 countries and 10 international organizations convened in Tianjin, China, for the 25th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The summit aims to enhance regional cooperation, deepen trade exchanges, and approve a long-term development strategy extending from 2026 to 2035, reports 24brussels.
This historic gathering marks the largest event to date for the SCO, showcasing its evolving role as a significant player in global diplomacy.
The summit has facilitated key bilateral meetings, most notably between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi emphasized the need to resume border discussions and restore direct flights, highlighting that collaboration between their nations impacts around 2.8 billion individuals. Xi responded with a call for partnership over rivalry, asserting that cooperation is the optimal path for their relationship.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the summit as part of a working visit that included trilateral discussions and his participation in a military parade scheduled for September 3. Analysts indicate that this iteration of the SCO is a crucial event within the global geopolitical context.
Originally established as a security alliance, the SCO has transformed into a comprehensive platform for economic, technological, and cultural cooperation.
With member countries accounting for nearly half of the world’s population and approximately a quarter of the global GDP, the SCO is striving to promote a multipolar world order that stands in stark contrast to the isolationist strategies advocated by Western nations.
Discussions at the summit are focused on new initiatives aimed at strengthening financial stability, including efforts to facilitate payments in national currencies to mitigate the effects of unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries.
The summit is expected to conclude with the signing of significant joint documents, such as the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy for 2035. Laos is anticipated to be approved as a “partner of the organization,” reflecting the SCO’s continued expansion and growing influence.
This event reinforces the SCO’s position as a fundamental element of Global South diplomacy, providing member states with a platform to assert their sovereignty in foreign policy decision-making.
