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China and Russia have in the past positioned the SCO as a counterweight to alliances like NATO, projecting it as a model of non-Western multilateralism.
Chinese President Xi jinping delivers a speech during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to strengthen cooperation by seeking common ground while setting aside differences, as he warned against “Cold War mentality” and “bullying behaviour” in global affairs.
Addressing leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit in Tianjin, Xi said that the SCO has achieved “ground-breaking and historic results” by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, and mutual respect. He emphasised that the bloc must continue to uphold these values to meet the increasingly complex challenges of security and development.
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“The current international situation is becoming chaotic and intertwined. The security and development tasks facing member states have become even more challenging,” Xi said in his keynote remarks, as quoted by AFP.
Xi urged the 10 full members of the grouping to resist external interference, enhance regional solidarity, and pursue multilateralism. “Looking to the future, with the world undergoing turbulence and transformation, we must continue to follow the Shanghai spirit, keep our feet on the ground, forge ahead, and better perform the functions of the organisation,” he said.
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Call For Fairer Global Governance
The Chinese leader underlined the need for a fairer and more equitable system of global governance, stressing support for multilateral trade structures. By standing firmly against unilateralism and protectionist practices, Xi said the SCO could play a constructive role in stabilising the global economy.
He added that the organisation’s strength lies in its ability to bridge differences among diverse members and create platforms for dialogue. “We must seek common ground while shelving differences, promote unity rather than division, and advance cooperation instead of confrontation,” Xi said.
Against Bloc Politics
In a pointed criticism of Western-led alliances, Xi condemned what he described as Cold War-era thinking, bloc confrontations, and hegemonic practices. Without naming any country, he said the SCO “unequivocally stands against outside interference” and warned against policies of containment and bullying.
China and Russia have in the past positioned the SCO as a counterweight to alliances like NATO, projecting it as a model of non-Western multilateralism.
The SCO Gathering
The SCO, which is convening its summit over two days, currently has 10 member states — China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. An additional 16 nations are associated as observers or dialogue partners, reflecting the group’s expanding influence.
For India, the summit comes against the backdrop of recent bilateral interactions with both Russia and China. Modi was seen sharing lighter moments with Putin and Xi on the sidelines, even as the leaders prepared for substantive discussions on security, trade, and regional stability.
Xi concluded by invoking the “Shanghai spirit”, the founding ethos of the SCO rooted in mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and pursuit of common development. He said these values would continue to guide the bloc in navigating global turbulence and ensuring its role as a platform for regional cooperation.
(With inputs from AFP)
About the Author
Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ…Read More
Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ… Read More
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