“The Shanghai Corporation Organization (SCO) summit reflects the strengthening of alternative forces beyond the influence of the US and Western countries amidst the gloom of multilateralism in the context of global turbulence.“
Amidst the gloom of multilateralism in the context of global geopolitical and economic uncertainty and turbulence, the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in Tianjin, China, for the Summit on August 31-September 1, 2025. This summit also reflects the growing influence of alternative forces outside the purview of Western countries in conventional international institutions.
China’s leadership vision for regional and global governance is increasingly evident. In his remarks, President Xi Jinping called for more just and equitable global governance. The Chinese president also expressed China’s commitment to promoting more efficient cooperation among SCO members, and more scientific decision-making with more efficient actions, supported by Chinese funding.
President Xin Jinping delivers remarks at the Opening of the 25th SCO Summit
The 25th SCO Summit was attended by 10 heads of state of SCO member states: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India), President Vladimir Putin (Russia), President Masoud Pezeshkian (Iran), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan), President Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan), President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan), President Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan), and President Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan).
The SCO summit also gained significance with the presence of leaders from observer countries, dialogue partners, and guests. President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh of Mongolia attended as an observer country.
Among the leaders of dialogue partner countries who attended were Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (Egypt), President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkey), Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (Nepal), President Mohamed Muizzu (Maldives), and Acting President of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing.
Guests were Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Foreign Minister Sugiono represented President Prabowo Subianto, who was unable to attend due to domestic issues.
Representatives of international organizations were also present at the summit, including Kao Kim Hourn (Secretary General of ASEAN), Asan Khan (Secretary General of ECO), Imangali Tasmagambetov (Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization), Jin Liqun (President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank), Bakytzhan Sagintayev (Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission), Antonio Gueterres (Secretary General of the UN), Sergey Lebedev (Secretary General of the CIS), and Kairat Sarybay (Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia).
The development of the SCO as an intergovernmental organization
The SCO was founded on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China, by six member states: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The intergovernmental organization expanded with the addition of four new member states: Belarus, India, Iran, and Pakistan.
Two countries are observers: Afghanistan and Mongolia. The SCO is also developing intensive cooperation with 14 dialogue partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Sri Lanka.
| Founding Members | New Member | Observer | Dialogue Partner |
| Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikista,n Uzbekistan | Belarusia India Iran Pakistan | Afghanistan Mongolia | Azerbaijan Armenia Bahrain Mesir Kamboja Qatar Kuwait Maldives Myanmar Nepal Uni Emirat Arab Arab Saudi Turki Sri Lanka |
The objectives of the SCO are to strengthen mutual trust, friendship and good neighborly relations among member states, promote effective cooperation among members in the fields of politics, trade, economy, science and technology, culture, education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection, etc.; ensure and maintain peace, security and stability in the region and promote democratic, fair and rational international political and economic governance.
The SCO plays a strategic role as a hub for other universal and regional organizations. On December 2, 2004, the SCO was granted observer status at the United Nations, granting it the right to participate in UN sessions and activities as an observer. The SCO also has intensive cooperation with UN agencies and divisions, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Cooperation with the UN and its divisions is marked by the signing of memorandums of understanding between the SCO and the UN and its divisions.
The SCO has also signed Cooperation agreements with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (since 2005), ASEAN (since 2005), CSTO (since 2007), Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) (since 2007), Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (since 2017).
The Power of Shanghai Spirit
The SCO is built on the Shanghai values rooted in ancient Chinese values. The Shanghai Spirit encompasses “ mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity and civilization, and the pursuit of common development. ” This Shanghai Spirit emphasizes harmony and unity, in keeping with Confucian teachings and reflecting Eastern wisdom. “Those with the same resolve never feel far apart, even if separated by seas and mountains,” was a quote from President Xin Jinping’s address at the 2018 SCO Summit held in Qingdao, China.
This Shanghai spirit is the SCO’s appeal and the foundation for its continued growth in the future. This spirit will strengthen the SCO’s vision to become a hub for other international organizations, including BRICS, the BRI, and the AIIB, which was initiated by China itself.
Author: YP Hermawan
Feature Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i3yeki_Tr8
Reference:
https://eng.sectsco.org/20170109/192193.html
https://www.cgtn.com/specials/2025/sco-summit-.html
https://www.dw.com/en/sco-summit-xi-and-modi-say-they-are-partners-not-rivals/live-73823604
https://english.news.cn/20250901/fd1cc0869e0b4903ba2f450658c9767c/c.html
SCO summit in China: Who’s attending, what’s at stake amid Trump tariffs? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/30/sco-summit-in-china-whos-attending-whats-at-stake-amid-trump-tariffs
