Chinese President Xi Jinping, addressing regional leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, sharply criticized “bullying behaviour” and Cold War mindsets undermining global stability. He called on member states, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and India’s Narendra Modi, to uphold fairness, justice, and oppose divisive confrontations. Xi emphasized the need to follow the “Shanghai spirit” to successfully navigate the complex and turbulent international environment.
The SCO, comprising 10 permanent members such as China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and others, as well as numerous observer and dialogue partners, was portrayed by China and Russia as a strategic alternative to NATO. Xi highlighted the increasing security and development difficulties facing members, urging increased cooperation to elevate the organization’s effectiveness and foster regional stability.
Xi unveiled China’s commitment to work closely with the SCO members, pledging substantial financial aid and loans to bolster economic cooperation and create a fairer global security framework. The Chinese leader stressed the importance of opposing hegemonism and external interference, advocating for multilateralism and a new model of international relations focused on equality and peaceful development.
The summit also marked a significant moment in China-India relations, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending his first trip to China in seven years. Both leaders expressed intentions to strengthen economic ties and collaborate as development partners rather than rivals, amidst global trade uncertainties exacerbated by U.S. tariffs. The SCO summit thus serves as a platform for reshaping global governance amid shifting geopolitical landscapes.
