Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to welcome more than 20 world leaders to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin. The gathering highlights a show of solidarity among Global South nations, bringing together leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The event also provides sanctions-hit Russia with yet another opportunity to build diplomatic momentum.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the key attendees. For Modi, this summit marks his first visit to China in more than seven years, as both neighbors continue efforts to ease tensions following violent border clashes in 2020. Last year, Modi, Xi, and Putin shared the stage at the BRICS summit in Russia, despite Western efforts to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine war.
Diplomatic observers note that the summit could also set the stage for trilateral talks between China, India, and Russia. Analysts suggest that Xi aims to use the conference to demonstrate the contours of a potential international order less influenced by Washington. This comes amid what many view as intensifying U.S. attempts to counter the growing influence of China, Russia, and other Global South nations on the global stage.
With 10 permanent members and an expanding roster of dialogue and observer states, the SCO is witnessing its largest summit since its foundation in 2001. Originally focused on security and counter-terrorism cooperation, the organization has widened its agenda to include trade, economic partnerships, and military collaboration—positioning itself as a formidable force in shaping new global dynamics.
