Tianjin: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to uphold fairness, justice, and multilateral cooperation as the grouping marked its 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Tianjin.
Addressing the summit, Xi urged member states to promote a correct historical perspective on World War II and resist Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying practices. He emphasized that SCO countries should strengthen their solidarity, respect their differences, and pursue greater cooperation.
“SCO member states are all friends and partners. We should respect our differences, maintain strategic communication, build consensus, and strengthen solidarity and collaboration,” Xi said, adding that member nations should leverage their complementary strengths to enhance regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
The summit brought together leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. A symbolic handshake among Modi, Xi, and Putin underscored the shifting dynamics of global power, with Asia presenting itself as a centre of influence in an increasingly multipolar world.
Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit. pic.twitter.com/K1eKVoHCvv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025
The SCO, established in 2001 with six founding members, has evolved into a 26-nation platform comprising 10 full members, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners, spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa. Together, it represents nearly half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP.
On the sidelines of the summit, Xi and Modi held bilateral talks, agreeing that China and India should be seen as “partners, not rivals.” Xi stressed that this year, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, offers an opportunity to pursue relations from a “strategic and long-term perspective.”
“As long as the two countries keep to this overarching direction, specific matters in the bilateral relations will fall into place and there will be steady and sustained progress,” Xi said. He urged both sides to strengthen strategic communication, deepen trust, expand cooperation, and enhance multilateral coordination.
JUST IN: 🇷🇺🇨🇳🇮🇳 President Putin, PM Modi, and President Xi Jinping seen chatting laughing together at SCO Summit. pic.twitter.com/QNK03ilhwv
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) September 1, 2025
Prime Minister Modi echoed the sentiment, stressing that cooperation between India and China is crucial amid global economic uncertainty. “Given the great uncertainties in the world economy, it is vital for India and China to strengthen cooperation as important economies of the world. Such cooperation will make the 21st century a genuine ‘Asian century,’” he said.
Xi also called on the SCO to champion openness, inclusiveness, and people-to-people exchanges. He urged members to support the UN-centred international system, strengthen the multilateral trading framework with the WTO at its core, and promote high-quality Belt and Road projects.
