China hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, near Beijing, bringing together 26 world leaders, including President Xi Jinping of China, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two-day event concluded on Monday.
During the summit, Xi urged member nations to unite against a global order dominated by the United States. He said in his opening address: “We should advocate for equal and orderly multipolarization of the world, inclusive economic globalization and promote the construction of a more just and equitable global governance system,” adding that “we must take advantage of the mega-scale market.”
Modi commented on social media about his participation: “Concluding a productive visit to China, where I attended the SCO Summit and interacted with various world leaders. Also emphasised India’s stand on key global issues. Thankful to President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people for the successful organisation of this Summit.”
He also noted a meeting with Putin during the summit: “Had an excellent meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade, fertilisers, space, security and culture. We exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership remains a vital pillar of regional and global stabilibility.”
At one point during their discussions, Modi told Putin: “It is a testament of the depth and breadth of our ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ that even in the most difficult times India and Russia have stood shoulder to shoulder.”
Putin described how he sees SCO as different from Western alliances: “Unlike Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models, [the SCO] would genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries, be truly balanced, and would not allow one country to ensure its own security at the expense of others.”
Tensions between India and the United States were highlighted following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of 50% tariffs on most goods imported from India. Trump responded online: “What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us… It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia… They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing… Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!”
The summit included other prominent leaders such as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif; Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; as well as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Observers note that while these countries share grievances toward U.S.-led policies rather than common goals—according to Carla Freeman at Johns Hopkins University—they remain large states with distinct agendas.
China announced it has contributed $84 billion so far to countries aligned with SCO members along with another $1.4 billion planned over three years.
Founded by China and Russia in 2001 before recent escalations between Washington-led alliances emerged globally via new trade measures or conflicts like those involving Ukraine—the bloc has grown from six founding members to ten since 2017 when both India and Pakistan joined.
Currently comprising roughly 40% percent of world population—including about 1.4 billion each from China or India—SCO stands as an alternative grouping alongside dialogue partners such as Turkey or Egypt plus observer states like Mongolia or Afghanistan (whose Taliban government was not present due international sanctions).
Xi called for peace between neighboring China-India despite past border clashes saying differences should not define relations but rather focus should be on maintaining “peace and tranquility.”
Some leaders are expected at China’s upcoming commemoration marking World War II’s end anniversary later this week; among them will be Putin alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong-un though Modi will not attend.
Xi encouraged participants “to promote a correct understanding” regarding World War II history.
