World leaders from across Asia and beyond gathered in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin for the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where Chinese President Xi Jinping called for fairness in global governance, unity among member states, and resistance against “bullying behaviour” in international affairs.
The SCO, now the world’s largest regional bloc, hosted its biggest-ever summit with leaders including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Xi Calls for Fairness, Opposes ‘Bullying Behaviour’
In his opening address, President Xi Jinping stressed that the SCO bears a “greater responsibility” in safeguarding peace and prosperity.
“The current international situation is becoming chaotic and intertwined,” Xi said. “We must adhere to fairness and justice, oppose Cold War mentality, camp confrontation, and bullying behaviour.”
Xi underlined that the SCO has set a “model for a new type of international relations” and urged members to strengthen cooperation in security and development.
Economic Cooperation and Development Initiatives
China announced fresh financial commitments to bolster regional growth. Xi pledged 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in grants to member states this year and 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in loans through the SCO Interbank Consortium over the next three years.
“SCO should leverage the strength of our mega-sized markets,” Xi noted, emphasising the importance of fair trade amid global tariff tensions.
Strategic Unity Amid Global Flux
The summit, attended by leaders of the 10 permanent SCO members and 16 partner countries, is expected to adopt the Tianjin Declaration and a 10-year development strategy covering security, trade, energy, and culture.
“Looking back, despite tumultuous times, we have achieved success by practising the Shanghai spirit,” Xi said. “Looking to the future, we must forge ahead and better perform the functions of the organisation.”
The SCO’s expansion and prominence are seen as Beijing’s effort to showcase an alternative vision of global governance in contrast to U.S.-led alliances.
Building Consensus, Mending Ties
The summit also provided an opportunity for China and India to ease tensions, with Xi and Modi agreeing that their countries are “development partners, not rivals.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised China’s “fundamental role” in supporting multilateralism, underscoring the SCO’s growing influence in shaping the international order.
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