Department of Research, Studies and International News 01-09-2025

China is set to host the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the northern port city of Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, bringing together leaders from across Asia, Eurasia, and beyond in what promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of the year. The meeting comes at a moment when Washington’s reckless trade wars and destabilizing policies have left much of the world seeking stronger alternatives to Western-dominated institutions.

A turning point for regional unity

Just over a year ago, questions were being raised about the SCO’s cohesion, particularly when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped a summit, citing domestic political obligations. Today, however, the atmosphere is markedly different. India, facing heavy-handed tariffs from Washington on its exports, is recalibrating its foreign policy and deepening its engagement with Eurasian partners. Modi’s visit to China, the first since 2018, signals a thaw in relations with Beijing and reflects New Delhi’s recognition of the value of regional solidarity in the face of Western economic pressure.

President Xi Jinping’s words in Astana last year, “No mountain or ocean can distance people who have shared aspirations”, resonate more strongly now. The SCO has become a platform for the Global South to push back against U.S. unilateralism and NATO-style bloc politics, advancing instead a vision of “indivisible security,” where no country’s security is achieved at the expense of another.

Broad participation reflects growing influence

Chinese officials confirmed that more than 20 heads of state and 10 international organizations will attend. Core SCO members, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and the Central Asian republics, will be represented at the highest levels, joined by Belarus, which became a full member this year.

Notably, the summit will also welcome leaders from Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, and the Maldives, underscoring the SCO’s role as a magnet for countries seeking a multipolar order. Representatives from the United Nations and ASEAN will also participate, a recognition of the grouping’s expanding weight in global affairs.

From security bloc to global platform

Originally established in 1996 as the “Shanghai Five” to resolve border disputes among post-Soviet states and China, the SCO has since evolved into a wide-ranging multilateral body. Today, it represents 43 percent of the world’s population and nearly a quarter of global GDP. With recent expansions, including Iran and Belarus, the SCO now spans Eurasia from Minsk to Beijing.

The bloc’s identity continues to develop. While initially focused on regional security, it now addresses trade, infrastructure, and political cooperation, aligning itself with the broader objectives of the Global South. Analysts often compare it to BRICS, which similarly represents emerging powers seeking alternatives to Western dominance. The SCO’s emphasis, however, on indivisible security sets it apart from NATO’s confrontational approach.

Global Context: Multipolarity on the Rise

The timing of this summit is critical. Russia continues to confront Western interference in Ukraine, while the United States and its allies turn a blind eye to Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Gaza and military aggression across the region. In South Asia and the Asia-Pacific, U.S. meddling has heightened instability. At the same time, Washington’s reckless tariff wars, most recently against India, have disrupted global trade and further alienated former partners.

Against this backdrop, Beijing and Moscow are expected to highlight the SCO’s role in guiding the world toward multipolarity. Rather than the unilateral dictates of Washington, SCO members are promoting genuine dialogue, mutual respect, and the defense of sovereignty.

Divergences within, but shared purpose prevails

Like any large multilateral group, the SCO contains differing perspectives. India, for example, maintains ties with both Russia and the West, and has at times hesitated to endorse joint statements against Israel’s aggression. Tensions also persist between India and Pakistan. Yet despite these disagreements, the SCO provides an indispensable forum where such disputes can be addressed within a framework of dialogue rather than confrontation.

The organization’s decision-making by consensus ensures no member is forced into policies against its interests, a sharp contrast with NATO’s coercive model. The presence of leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East itself highlights the SCO’s ability to bridge divides and create common ground.

Symbolism and strategic messaging

For China, hosting the summit is both a diplomatic milestone and a symbolic statement. At a time when the U.S. is isolating itself through aggressive tariffs, sanctions, and military adventurism, Beijing is showcasing an alternative: cooperation, inclusion, and stability.

Immediately following the summit, China will host a major military parade on September 3 to commemorate the end of World War II in Asia. Many SCO leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko, and Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, are expected to remain for the event. The presence of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un would further emphasize the shifting dynamics of global power.

A message to Washington

While Washington continues to promote exclusive blocs like the Quad to counter China’s rise, its heavy-handed policies, especially the punitive tariffs against India, are undermining its own credibility. The SCO summit demonstrates that Eurasia is no longer willing to follow Washington’s dictates. Instead, it is charting a new course toward multipolarity, collective security, and economic cooperation that respects sovereignty.

The Tianjin gathering is therefore more than a diplomatic event, it is a signal of a changing world order. As China, Russia, India, Iran, and others strengthen their bonds, the SCO is proving to be not only a regional force but a global platform challenging Western hegemony.