Chinese President Xi Jinping criticised “bullying behaviour” in global affairs during his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. He urged leaders, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, to promote fairness and reject Cold War mentalities.
Xi called on SCO leaders to support justice and oppose “Cold War mentality, camp confrontation, and bullying behaviour.” He praised the SCO’s approach to international relations. This approach rejects outside interference and promotes teamwork among countries. Xi said the “Shanghai spirit” of mutual trust is key to the SCO’s success. He also shared goals to increase the SCO’s global influence, per Reuters.
The SCO is holding its largest summit from August 31 to September 1. Its members include China, Pakistan, India, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. The bloc also has 16 observer and partner nations. Founded in 2001, the SCO focuses on security and economic cooperation. Many see it as a counterbalance to NATO. The 2025 summit aims to address a “chaotic” global situation, as Xi said.
The Meeting of the #SCO Heads of State Council with the participation of Russia's President Vladimir Putin has begun.
📌 Tianjin, China
📹 © https://t.co/1iwVtSG6SN pic.twitter.com/FYGE4DdbyH
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) September 1, 2025Xi described the SCO as a leader in a new global security order. The SCO challenges U.S.-led governance. Xi opposed power politics and called for positive international cooperation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised China’s role in multilateralism. Analysts see the summit as a platform for China to offer an alternative to Western alliances amid U.S. tariff policies.
Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Xi Jinping to Unite at Beijing’s 2025 Victory Day Parade
The summit provided China and India with an opportunity to enhance their ties. Modi visited China for the first time in seven years. He met Xi on August 31. They agreed that their countries are partners, not rivals. They discussed ways to boost trade during global tariff uncertainty. This development follows the improvement of relations since 2024 and aligns with India’s goal of strategic autonomy.
The SCO now has 10 members and 16 partners. This shows its growing influence. It covers 43% of the world’s population. Xi’s comments suggest China’s plan to counter U.S. policies, including those implemented by Trump’s tariffs. These tariffs strained relations with India and others. However, internal conflicts, such as India-Pakistan tensions, limit the SCO’s unity.
