Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members to safeguard fairness, justice, and multilateralism while strengthening solidarity and cooperation in pursuit of a multipolar world order.
Speaking at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Tianjin, Xi said, “We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation and bullying practices.” He called on member states to respect differences, maintain strategic communication, build consensus, and expand cooperation to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Xi underscored that SCO members—representing nearly half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP—carry a responsibility to champion openness, inclusiveness, and economic integration. He urged members to align development strategies, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and leverage their mega-markets for shared growth.
The summit also showcased a rare moment of unity between India, China, and Russia, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi, and President Vladimir Putin clasping hands in a symbolic gesture. Xi emphasised that India and China are “partners, not rivals,” stressing that consensus outweighs disagreements.
Marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, Xi told Modi that both countries must view relations from a “strategic and long-term perspective,” while strengthening trust and pursuing win-win cooperation. Modi, in turn, said India was committed to a constructive relationship with China, adding that cooperation between the two Asian powers would help make the 21st century a genuine “Asian century.”
Xi further noted that China and India, as major members of the Global South, bear the responsibility of promoting solidarity among developing nations and contributing to global peace and prosperity.
Founded in 2001, the SCO has grown into a 26-nation bloc with 10 full members—including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Central Asian states—along with observers and dialogue partners. With increasing geopolitical weight, the organisation has emerged as a key pillar of regional stability and practical cooperation.
