Tianjin, China — The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, the largest in the bloc’s history, concluded with significant strides toward regional security, economic integration, and global multipolarity. Over 20 countries and 10 international organizations participated, setting a new direction for Eurasian cooperation through 2035.
Key Outcomes:
Key outcomes included approving the SCO Development Strategy 2026-2035 and launching four crucial new centers focused on countering security threats, information security, transnational crime, and anti-drug efforts. A landmark decision was made to establish an SCO Development Bank to boost infrastructure and socio-economic progress across member states. China pledged enhanced cooperation in energy, green technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and educational exchanges.
Leaders’ Stance:
Leaders emphasized upholding international fairness, multilateralism, and a rules-based global governance system, pushing back against economic unilateralism and coercive measures, indirectly referencing ongoing US tariffs and sanctions. The summit’s Tianjin Declaration strongly condemned terrorism in all forms, referencing specific attacks in India and Pakistan, and reaffirmed the commitment to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism collectively.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a significant bilateral meeting, reaffirming that India-China cooperation is vital for ensuring a multipolar Asian century and stable regional order. Modi stressed transparency in trade, connectivity without coercion, and sovereignty respect. He raised concerns about cross-border terrorism, with China expressing willingness for counter-terror collaboration. Modi also held talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who highlighted growing Sino-Russian economic and security ties while defending Russia’s stance in global conflicts.
SCO’s Expansion:
The summit showcased SCO’s expanding role as a pragmatic platform for cooperation, contrasting Western-led forums. The organization welcomed Laos as a new partner state, growing the family to 27 members, and reclassified observer states and dialogue partners as SCO Partners to enhance inclusion.
Discussions:
Besides security and economics, SCO participants also voiced deep concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemned actions causing civilian casualties. Cybersecurity, drug trafficking, and even outer space militarization also featured prominently in discussions.
The 2025 Tianjin SCO Summit marks an ambitious step toward deeper Eurasian integration, signaling the bloc’s rising influence as a champion for multipolarity, regional stability, and sustainable development amid shifting global dynamics
