China is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, marking the fifth time the country has convened the high-level gathering and the largest since the bloc’s formation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the “SCO Plus” Meeting, where he will deliver keynote speeches, host a welcome banquet, and hold bilateral engagements with participating leaders.
According to Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin, more than 20 heads of state and leaders of 10 international organisations are expected to attend, reflecting the SCO’s growing global importance. Confirmed attendees include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, alongside leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
On Pakistan’s side, PM Shahbaz Sharif’s visit will underline Islamabad’s emphasis on regional connectivity, counterterrorism cooperation, and economic integration through the SCO framework, particularly as discussions expand on energy, trade, and security matters.
International organisations joining the summit include the United Nations, ASEAN, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Their participation highlights the SCO’s increasingly multilateral role in addressing regional and global challenges.
Analysts suggest the summit will not only reinforce the bloc’s security agenda but also pave the way for deeper cooperation in trade, the digital economy, and infrastructure. With Pakistan, China, Russia, India, and Central Asian states converging, the Tianjin gathering is expected to shape the next phase of Eurasian diplomacy and connectivity.
Related stories:
