SCO summit 2025: China’s Xi urges Eurasian partners to defend Global South
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to strengthen cooperation in defending the interests of the Global South, urging reforms to global governance that promote fairness and equality.
Addressing around 20 world leaders at the two-day summit in Tianjin, Xi underlined the need for multilateralism, respect for international law, and equal participation for all countries in global decision-making.
“To uphold international fairness and justice, we must take action through Shanghai Cooperation. Member states, adhering to principles of fairness, constructively engage in international and regional affairs and defend the shared interests of the Global South,” Xi said.
“We must resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics and practise genuine multilateralism, acting as a cornerstone for the diversification of the world and democratisation of international relations,” he continued.
China also announced plans for expanded cooperation in areas including renewable energy, green industry, digital economy, artificial intelligence, education, and healthcare. It said the SCO remains committed to non-alignment, inclusive growth, and serving as a stabilising force in global affairs.
The SCO is a regional intergovernmental organisation founded in June 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It was created to strengthen political, security, and economic cooperation across Eurasia, building on the earlier “Shanghai Five” mechanism established in 1996.
Today, the SCO has nine full members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran. The organisation also has observer states, including Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia, as well as dialogue partners such as Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia.
Modi, Putin talk Ukraine war
On the sidelines of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks that focused on the two global powers’ partnership and the war in Ukraine.
Putin described relations between Moscow and New Delhi as “special, friendly and trusting,” saying this foundation would continue to guide future cooperation. Modi described the partnership as “special, privileged, and strategic.”
“Even in the most challenging circumstances, India and Russia have consistently moved forward together, shoulder to shoulder. Our close co-operation is vital not only for the peoples of our two nations but also for maintaining global peace, stability, and prosperity,” the Indian president said.
On Ukraine, Modi said the two leaders “regularly share perspectives on the ongoing conflict” and reiterated India’s position on peace efforts.
“We welcome all recent efforts to establish peace and hope that all parties will approach this matter constructively. We must find ways to bring the conflict to an end and restore peace as swiftly as possible. This is a call shared by all of humanity,” he said.
Putin used his appearance at the SCO to defend Moscow’s position, claiming Russia’s actions in Ukraine were “a result of a coup…supported and provoked by the West” and blaming NATO expansion for fuelling tensions.
He praised the SCO for promoting “genuine multilateralism” and for “laying the political and socio-economic groundwork for the formation of a new system of stability and security in Eurasia,” which he said would move away from “outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models.”
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
