Leaders from over 20 countries and 10 international organizations gathered in China for the 25th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), aiming to invigorate regional cooperation, deepen trade exchanges, and approve a long-term development strategy extending from 2026 to 2035.

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The summit marks the largest event in the history of the organization and highlights the SCO’s growing role as a global diplomatic actor.

The summit has provided a platform for numerous high-level bilateral meetings, notably between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi emphasized the resumption of border talks and the restoration of direct flights, asserting that cooperation between their nations benefits 2.8 billion people. Xi responded by underscoring the imperative of partnership over rivalry, describing cooperation as “the best option for their relationship.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the summit as part of a working visit that included trilateral talks and participation in a military parade scheduled for September 3. Analysts underscore that this edition of the SCO is impossible to ignore within the global geopolitical landscape.

Originally founded as a security mechanism, the organization has evolved into a broad platform for economic, technological, and cultural cooperation.

With member countries representing nearly half the world’s population and about a quarter of the global GDP, the SCO seeks to consolidate a multipolar world order, contrasting with the isolationist policies advocated by Western powers.

The organization is discussing new measures to bolster financial stability, including promoting payments in national currencies to reduce the impact of unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries.

The summit is expected to conclude with the signing of significant joint documents, such as the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy through 2035. Laos is also set to be approved as a “partner of the organization,” reflecting the SCO’s ongoing expansion and influence.

This event emphasizes the SCO’s role as a central pillar of Global South diplomacy and as a platform where member states reaffirm their sovereignty in foreign policy decisions.

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