The Tianjin Summit set the stage for a better future for the region through a range of initiatives. The call for transforming global governance, shaping a multipolar world order, and achieving greater security for all states are key foundation stones for deep cooperation among SCO members.
President Xi advised all members to forge ahead with solid steps in pursuit of these goals. This is likely to place the SCO at the center of world politics.
In his opening address, President Xi categorically highlighted the need for stronger partnerships and a unified approach to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit in an increasingly destabilized world order. Today, the SCO has grown into a major organization with participation from Asia, Africa, and Europe, consisting of 10 permanent members, 2 observers, and 14 dialogue partners. It is well-qualified and has credible leadership to help shape the global development landscape.
SCO members are cooperating in more than 50 areas, generating a combined output of over $30 trillion. The Tianjin Summit, the largest in SCO history under the “SCO Plus” format, is a strong indicator of the organization’s rising global appeal and influence. It has been regarded as a major breakthrough for the Global South in the run-up to the UN General Assembly session this month.
The core strength of the SCO lies in its consistency and evolution. It began as a border management initiative but gradually expanded its scope. The Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation laid the foundation for its growth and expansion. The SCO’s history is also a story of sustainable policy interventions—non-interference in domestic affairs, mutual respect for sovereignty, and a commitment to multilateralism. These principles have enabled member states to forge lasting relations while avoiding mutual hostilities.
Another defining element of the SCO’s growth is its consultation and consensus-based decision-making, where each participant has a voice. Both small and large states enjoy equal representation and opportunities. China, backed by SCO members, seeks to extend this model of consultation and multilateralism into global governance. Transparency, respect for the rule of law, equitable representation, and the advancement of a multipolar world order remain the key goals of the SCO’s future agenda.
A deeper analysis of President Xi’s speech at Tianjin reveals a broader vision of global governance. He advocated for a mutually beneficial and inclusive system that prioritizes consultation over confrontation and economic globalization over barriers. His vision seeks to set the stage for shared development not only among states but for humanity at large.
It is equally clear that President Xi’s message was not about China acting alone. He was speaking on behalf of the entire organization, signaling that an equitable international system, multilateralism, shared development, and a multipolar world are common interests of all states in the Global South. In Tianjin, he gave voice and visibility to these aspirations.
The way forward for SCO members is to remain loyal to the Shanghai Spirit and its founding mission. Doing so will enable them to pursue mutual benefits and win-win outcomes across diverse fields, including agriculture, digital transformation, IT, cyber security, green industries, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and human development.
President Xi announced a grant of 2 billion yuan to SCO members this year to accelerate progress in these areas. He also pledged 10 billion yuan in loans through the SCO Interbank Consortium to finance infrastructure development over the next three years. Recognizing resource disparities among members, China further committed to bridging these gaps by sponsoring 100 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects aimed at boosting employment for skilled labor. These efforts alone are expected to create more than 10,000 human resource training opportunities.
The Tianjin Summit, therefore, must be viewed not as a routine diplomatic engagement but as a landmark event shaping the trajectory of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its expanding global relevance. It reaffirmed the SCO’s role as a platform promoting balance, inclusivity, and collective progress in a fragmented world order.
The true significance of the Tianjin Summit lies in proving that when regional organizations are rooted in equality, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, they can shape the discourse on global governance. This represents the potential future of the SCO.
President Xi’s emphasis on building a multipolar world order, advancing economic globalization, and fostering people-centered development transcends the regional context—his message was directed at the global community. Importantly, he did not merely call on SCO members to share his vision but backed his words with commitments designed to bring all participants closer to parity through shared development.
If the SCO continues to prioritize consultation over confrontation and cooperation over competition, it will strengthen its role in advancing a just, transparent, and equitable international system. President Xi has set the discourse at Tianjin; it is now up to the SCO members to sustain this momentum and carry it forward for a shared future.
MUHAMMAD Asif Noor
Secretary General, Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum and
