SCO Summit 2025: Xi Jinping to Host Over 20 World Leaders in Tianjin
Published: August 26, 2025 |
China is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025, bringing together more than 20 world leaders in a major show of Global South solidarity.
Among the key attendees are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit marks Modi’s first visit to China in over seven years, amid efforts to ease tensions following deadly border clashes in 2020.
This year’s gathering is expected to be the largest SCO summit since the bloc’s founding in 2001, featuring discussions on regional security, economic cooperation, and military collaboration. The SCO now includes 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries, expanding beyond its original six Eurasian nations.
Experts note that while the SCO’s practical implementation has often been limited, the summit offers China and other member states an opportunity to project influence and unity among Global South nations, especially in the context of shifting US foreign policy.
The summit will also provide a platform for a high-profile Xi-Modi meeting, as both countries aim to maintain momentum in recent detente efforts. Analysts expect announcements on border measures, trade and visa facilitation, climate cooperation, and broader people-to-people engagement.
Despite lingering frictions—such as historical disputes between Pakistan and India—the summit’s diplomatic optics are significant, signaling cooperation and dialogue among member nations.
After the SCO summit, Modi will depart China, while Putin will remain for a World War Two military parade in Beijing, extending his diplomatic visit.
The 2025 SCO summit highlights China’s ambitions to strengthen multilateral ties in Asia and boost its role on the global stage while reinforcing support for Russia and engaging key regional partners like India.
