Reference :

• The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit was held from 31 August to 1 September 2025 in Tianjin, China.

Key Points:

• This was the largest SCO summit to date.
• Over 20 countries’ leaders and 10 heads of international organizations participated.
• It was the 5th SCO Summit hosted by China, held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center.
• Theme: “Promoting the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action” – focusing on the summit’s objectives, outcomes, geopolitical significance, and India’s role.

Significance of the Tianjin Summit

Geopolitical Context:

• The summit aimed to establish SCO as a platform promoting a multipolar world order.
• Russia and China used the summit to strengthen their position as alternative power centers against Western countries, especially the USA.
• Held on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Japan’s surrender, symbolizing SCO’s commitment to global peace and stability.

Impact of U.S. Policies:

• SCO member states discussed the impact of U.S. policies and tariffs, including the 50% tariff on Indian imports of Russian oil and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Particular attention was given to India-China discussions, following the 2020 border tensions.

China’s Leadership Role:

• China used the summit to project itself as a “reliable and predictable” regional leader.
• President Xi Jinping presented SCO as a stable global power, in contrast to the uncertain policies of the U.S.

Key Outcomes

Tianjin Declaration:

• Adopted during the summit, reaffirming SCO principles and emphasizing the Shanghai Spirit (mutual trust, equality, cultural respect, and common development).

10-Year Development Strategy (2025-2035):

• Focused on security, economic cooperation, digital economy, and sustainable development.
• Included a proposal to establish the SCO Development Bank, supported by India.

80th Anniversary Statement:

• Statements marked the 80th anniversary of WWII victory and the UN founding, reflecting SCO’s commitment to global peace and international law.

Laos as Dialogue Partner:

• Laos became SCO’s 15th dialogue partner, expanding SCO’s reach in Southeast Asia.

Economic and Cultural Cooperation:

• Initiatives on energy security, transport corridors, digital economy, and cultural exchanges.
• Highlighted $890 billion trade with China in 2024 among SCO members, observers, and dialogue partners.

India’s Role

Prime Minister Modi’s Participation:

• PM Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in 7 years, signaling improvement in India-China relations post-2020 border disputes.
• Emphasized India’s three pillars policy in SCO: Security, Connectivity, Opportunity.

Focus on Terrorism:

• Referred to the Pahalgam attack on 22 April 2025, in which 26 Indian tourists were killed.
• Criticized double standards on terrorism and urged SCO to hold accountable those using terrorism as a policy tool.
• India refused to endorse a joint statement that did not mention the Pahalgam attack, highlighting Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism.

Connectivity and Regional Integrity:

• Modi emphasized that connectivity projects should respect regional integrity, indirectly reflecting India’s concerns over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Bilateral Talks with China:

• Meeting with Xi Jinping marked a step toward normalizing India-China relations.
• Discussions were also relevant in the context of U.S. tariffs on Russian oil imports by India.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – Overview

• Established: 15 June 2001, Shanghai, China
• Official Languages: Russian and Chinese
• Full Members (2025): 10

• • India (joined 2017)
  • Pakistan (2017)
  • China
  • Russia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Tajikistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Iran (2023)
  • Belarus (2024)
• Observer States: Afghanistan, Mongolia
• Dialogue Partners: 15 countries, e.g., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nepal, Laos, Sri Lanka
• Permanent Bodies: Secretariat (Beijing), Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (Tashkent)
• Chairmanship:
• • 2023 – India
  • 2024 – Kazakhstan
  • 2025 – China
• China declared 2025 as the “SCO Year of Sustainable Development”
• Major Summit: 23rd SCO Summit held virtually under India’s chairmanship on 4 July 2023