Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit Kicks Off in Tianjin with Global Leaders in Attendance

Kokcha News Agency:The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, hosted by China, has officially commenced in Tianjin, bringing together leaders from member states including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. Observers like Mongolia and dialogue partners, including Turkey, are also participating. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping, will address the expanded “SCO Plus” meeting.

This year’s summit is the largest in SCO history, with over 20 country leaders and representatives from more than 10 international organizations in attendance. The event comes at a time when traditional Western alliances are under strain due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, and China and Russia are positioning the SCO as a counterbalance to Western influence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the SCO Heads of State Council meeting and the expanded SCO Plus meeting, where he will outline China’s vision for maintaining post-war international order and improving global governance. Leaders are expected to adopt the “Tianjin Declaration,” which will set the SCO’s development strategy for the next decade.

The summit will also mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations, with a joint statement and agreements on security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will attend the summit, criticized Western countries for revising the outcomes of World War II to suit their geopolitical interests. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation signals a thaw in India-China relations, despite ongoing border tensions.

The SCO, founded in 2001, now represents 40% of the world’s population and 30% of global GDP, making it a significant player in global geopolitics.