25th SCO Summit: Xi Jinping Urges Rejection of Cold War Mentality and Bloc Confrontation in Push for Multipolar World

📍 Tianjin, China — Chinese President Xi Jinping urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to reject “Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation” and promote a “multipolar, just, and orderly world” during the bloc’s 25th summit held from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin.

Addressing leaders from the SCO’s 10 full members—including Russia, India, Iran, and Pakistan—Xi emphasized the organization’s founding principles of mutual trust, non-alignment, and shared development. He called for deeper cooperation in security, trade, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and green industries.

The summit served as a platform for diplomatic engagement amid global instability. Notably, Xi held bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both leaders agreed to pursue peaceful dialogue and reaffirmed that China and India are “partners, not rivals.” Xi also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reinforce strategic coordination and with Turkish officials to discuss regional stability.

Xi announced China would allocate ¥2 billion in aid and ¥10 billion in loans for SCO development projects, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to regional growth. He also advocated for expanded cultural and educational exchanges to strengthen people-to-people ties.

The summit marked the SCO’s continued evolution from a regional security pact into a broader geopolitical and economic alliance. With growing interest from observer states and dialogue partners, the organization is positioning itself as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions, promoting multilateralism and regional integration.