25th SCO Summit 2025

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held from August 31 to September 1, 2025 in Tianjin, China. It was the largest summit in SCO’s history and was the 5th time that China hosted the meeting. This gathering marked a milestone in regional diplomacy and multilateral cooperation setting new directions for security, economic and social collaboration among its member states.

SCO Establishment and Membership

● The SCO traces its origins to the "Shanghai Five," established in 1996 as a mechanism for resolving border disputes among China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

● Uzbekistan joined in 2000 and the formal Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was launched on June 15, 2001.

● In 2002, member states adopted the SCO Charter during a meeting of the Council of Heads of State in St. Petersburg. This charter which came into effect on 19 September 2003, serves as the organisation’s constitutional document.

● India and Pakistan joined SCO in 2017 at Astana (Capital of Kazakhstan). Iran joined it in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.

● As of the 25th summit, SCO comprises ten full members: China, India, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

● Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) represents nearly 42% of the global population and around 25% of global GDP, giving it substantial geopolitical and geoeconomic weight.

● The permanent secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is located in Beijing, China. The SCO has a second permanent body, the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti Terrorist Structure (RATS) which is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

● The official working language of the SCO Secretariat is Russian and Chinese.

● SCO Partners: Earlier, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) had Observer States and Dialogue Partners as separate categories. At the SCO Summit 2025 these were merged into a single category called “SCO Partners.” There are now 17 SCO Partners with Laos becoming the latest member in 2025.

Key outcome of the SCO Summit 2025

● The summit adopted the "Tianjin Declaration" pledging collective action on security, economic and cultural challenges while endorsing a multipolar global order centered on sovereign equality and mutual benefit.

● Counter terrorism remained a priority with strong condemnation of terrorism including the recent Pahalgam attack and calls to end cross border movement of terrorists. There was consensus on taking firm action against states supporting terrorism.

● The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) was proposed to strengthen cooperation on sovereign equality, multilateralism and reform of global governance mechanisms, aligning with principles of the United Nations and World Trade Organization.

● Members opposed unilateral coercive measures such as economic sanctions that bypass multilateral frameworks. Solidarity was reaffirmed for international law and against the glorification of racism, extremism and xenophobia.

● The summit condemned recent military actions in Gaza and Iran and promoted inclusive governance for Afghanistan to ensure lasting peace in the region.

● Economic and development cooperation were prioritized with initiatives to stabilize global trade, deepen bilateral investment and launch an SCO Development Bank for sustainable growth.

● Laos was accepted as a new partner country raising the total SCO strength to 27 including 10 full member countries and 17 partners. The summit also merged observer states and dialogue partners into a single category to streamline cooperation and engagement.

● Calls were made for improved people to people exchanges, youth empowerment, cultural cooperation and the formation of a Civilizational Dialogue Forum.

● Four specialised SCO centres were inaugurated to address security threats, organised crime, information security and drug trafficking.

● India’s vision "One Earth, One Family, One Future" was recognised in the summit and India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi emphasised "Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity," positioning India as a key voice in the SCO’s future direction.

● Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China on the sidelines of the Summit of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin on 31 August 2025.

● PM Modi and President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that India and China are partners, not rivals and agreed that differences should not become disputes, both leaders emphasized stable ties based on mutual respect and noted steady progress since their 2024 meeting. They also welcomed successful border disengagement, committed to fair resolution of boundary issues, and highlighted expanding bilateral trade, people to people exchanges and support for a multipolar world.

● World major economy leaders including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin participated in the 25th SCO Summit. Their presence at this summit is significant as SCO plays a key role in promoting a multipolar world order, reducing the unipolar dominance of the US in global affairs and increasing cooperation among major global powers to address regional security, economic and diplomatic challenges. This meeting highlighted shifting global power dynamics with India signaling its strategic autonomy by engaging with both China and Russia. The US has softened its previous hardline stance as seen in the easing of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on India and China, reflecting a more pragmatic approach to these key global players.

Note:

The 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin stands out for its firm stance on terrorism, fresh efforts toward multipolar global cooperation, commitment to economic integration, and reinvigorated cultural exchanges among its growing membership. Through these measures, the SCO seeks to offer a robust alternative to existing global institutions and shape a more balanced and inclusive Eurasian order.