Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged 2 billion yuan (US\$281 million) in funding for Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states this year, while calling on the bloc to resist “hegemonism” and strengthen multilateralism amid what he described as a “turbulent and changing” world.

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Speaking at the SCO’s 25th summit in Tianjin, Xi urged leaders to “oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation and bullying.” He said the organization should “advocate for a fair and orderly world order” and push for a system of global governance that is “more just and reasonable.”

Xi emphasized that the SCO “opposes hegemonism” and “practices true multilateralism,” vowing the group will “always uphold international fairness and justice” and stressing that its members “will never be enemies,” despite recent internal strains.

Last June, a defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao ended without a joint declaration after disagreements between India and Pakistan over terrorism, underlining tensions within the bloc.

Xi recalled that since its founding 24 years ago, the SCO has advanced the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, shared benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and common development. He highlighted progress in border confidence-building, joint actions against “the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism,” and cooperation in infrastructure, energy, digitalization and innovation. Trade between China and SCO members, he said, has already surpassed US\$2.3 trillion, meeting targets ahead of schedule.

The Chinese leader called for deeper collaboration in energy, green industry, the digital economy, scientific innovation and artificial intelligence, as well as enhanced connectivity through freight rail to Europe and expanded road transport. “Respect differences, maintain strategic communication and strengthen practical cooperation,” he urged.

Positions from Other Leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked China, India and other SCO partners for their efforts on Ukraine. “Russia highly values the efforts of Beijing, New Delhi and other partners to resolve the situation in Ukraine,” he said, adding that “attempts by the West to draw Ukraine into NATO are one of the causes of the crisis,” which he described as stemming from “a coup, not from an attack.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for “zero tolerance” toward “cross-border terrorism, separatism and extremism.”

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian condemned “the continuation of the massacre in Gaza” and denounced as “illegal” the military strike on Iran last June attributed to Israel and the United States.

Summit Outlook

According to China’s Foreign Ministry, the summit will adopt agreements on security, economy and culture, in what Beijing describes as the most significant SCO gathering since its establishment. An expanded session with non-member states and international organizations is also scheduled.

Unlike NATO, the SCO has no mutual defense commitments, presenting itself instead as a platform for political, economic and security cooperation.

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