The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit happened in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, 2025, and was a major event in international diplomacy.

As the largest summit in SCO history, it showcased China’s vision for a multipolar world, fostering stronger ties among member states like China, Russia, and India amid tensions with Western powers. Representing 43% of the global population and 23% of world GDP, the SCO Summit 2025 highlighted critical discussions on regional security, economic cooperation, and geopolitical strategy, positioning the organization as a counterweight to Western alliances. This landmark event underscored China’s ambition to lead the Global South, offering a platform for nations to collaborate on shared challenges and opportunities.

SCO Summit 2025

Advancing a Multipolar World Order

The SCO Summit 2025 served as a stage for China to promote an “orderly multipolar world.” President Xi Jinping, chairing the event, criticized Western “bullying practices,” particularly U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump. With over 20 world leaders present, the summit emphasized China’s role as a stabilizing force for the Global South. U.S.Policies like imposing 50% tariffs on Indian products because India bought oil from Russia made countries like India lean more towards Beijing, showing how important the SCO is in world politics.

High-Profile Attendees and Diplomacy

The summit welcomed leaders from the SCO’s 10 member states—China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—alongside observer nations like Turkey and Cambodia. Key diplomatic engagements included:

• Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting, signaling a thaw in China-India relations.
• Discussions between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reinforcing their strategic partnership.

These interactions underscored the summit’s role in fostering high-level dialogue and strengthening bilateral ties among member states.

Tianjin Declaration and Strategic Outcomes

The summit produced the “Tianjin Declaration” and the “SCO Development Strategy for the Next Ten Years,” focusing on economic integration, technological collaboration, and security cooperation. China pledged $84 billion in investments to SCO nations, alongside support for 10,000 students through the Luban vocational program. These commitments aim to drive economic growth and technological advancement, reinforcing the SCO’s role as a platform for regional development and stability.

China-India Relations

Toward Partnership, Not Rivalry

The Xi-Modi meeting was a highlight of the SCO Summit 2025, marking a new chapter in China-India relations. Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to China since 2018 happened while the U.S. had some other issues going on. tariffs strained India’s economy. Xi emphasized that both nations should be “partners rather than rivals,” leading to agreements to resume direct flights and restore border trade disrupted by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. These steps signal a pragmatic approach to resolving tensions and fostering cooperation.

Broader Regional Implications

Improved China-India ties could reshape Asia’s geopolitical landscape. India, balancing its SCO commitments with its role in the Quad (U.S., Japan, Australia), is navigating economic pressures from Western policies. The summit highlighted India’s strategic pivot toward Beijing, enabling access to Chinese intellectual property for industrialization. This shift could enhance India’s economic resilience while strengthening the SCO’s regional influence, a key focus for analysts tracking Asia’s evolving dynamics.

Russia, Ukraine, and SCO Dynamics

Putin’s Narrative and China’s Role

At the SCO Summit 2025, Putin framed the Ukraine conflict as a Western-provoked crisis, praising China and India for their peace efforts.China stayed neutral, helping to mediate the situation while also supporting Russia by providing economic aid through their oil and gas trade.The SCO’s diverse membership, including rivalries like India-Pakistan, limited its ability to form unified policies on global conflicts, highlighting the organization’s challenges in achieving consensus.

Beijing’s Military Showcase

After the summit, a military parade took place in Beijing on September 3, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event showcased modern missiles and fighter planes.it reinforced China’s military strength and historical narrative of overcoming Western dominance.While Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un were present, Modi’s absence showed India’s careful attitude towards joining China’s criticism of the West, showing the tricky balance within the SCO.

Challenges Facing the SCO Summit 2025

Western Criticism and Internal Tensions

Western media labeled the SCO an “axis of upheaval” due to the presence of Russia, Iran, and North Korea, raising concerns about its anti-Western agenda. The summit’s focus on optics over substantive policy drew skepticism. Internal rivalries, such as India-Pakistan tensions, pose challenges to the SCO’s cohesion, complicating efforts to present a unified front on global issues.

Balancing Growth and Unity

The SCO’s expansion to 10 member states and 16 partners strengthens its global influence but complicates consensus-building. Ensuring that China’s $84 billion investment translates into tangible economic outcomes will be critical for the organization’s credibility. The SCO must navigate diverse interests to maintain unity while driving regional development.

 SCO Summit 2025’s Global Impact

The SCO Summit 2025 in Tianjin solidified China’s leadership in fostering a multipolar world, with breakthroughs in China-India relations and deepened ties with Russia.The summit showed that the SCO is becoming more powerful, but its many members and the criticism from the West show there are still challenges to deal with. As China drives economic and technological collaboration, the outcomes of the SCO Summit 2025 will shape global geopolitics, particularly for the Global South, in the coming decade.