SCO Summit in Tianjin Highlights Global Divisions, UN Role

World leaders pose for a family photo at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin

By: ATN News

Tianjin, China: — Leaders from across Eurasia gathered in Beijing on Monday for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, where calls for a new global order clashed with Western criticism and the United Nations sought to keep its seat at the table.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers remarks at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, urging members to support “genuine multilateralism

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged members to back what he called a fairer system of global governance. “We must oppose hegemonism and strengthen genuine multilateralism,” Xi told delegates, while promoting SCO-led financial initiatives to reduce dependence on Western systems.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the SCO Summit in Tianjin, defending Moscow’s position on Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended Moscow’s war in Ukraine, casting it as resistance to outside interference. “The events in Ukraine are the result of a Western-backed coup,” Putin said, adding that the SCO represented “a true model of multilateralism, free from external dictates.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the SCO Summit in Tianjin, calling for stronger action against terrorism.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a different note, calling for unity against terrorism after the deadly Pahalgam attack. “Terrorism in any form cannot be justified,” Modi said, urging member states to cooperate more closely on security. He also proposed a “Civilizational Dialogue Forum” to strengthen cultural ties.

For the first time, the group’s joint declaration included India in condemning recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed the move, saying it showed “a unified stance against aggression and a defense of sovereignty.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, attending the summit, sought to bridge divides. “The United Nations must remain engaged with emerging platforms of power,” he told delegates, stressing that cooperation beyond traditional Western institutions was essential. His presence signaled the UN’s determination to stay relevant as regional blocs gain momentum.

The United States, which is not a member of the SCO, dismissed the gathering. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it “largely performative” and accused China and India of “fueling Russia’s war machine.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the SCO Summit as “largely performative,” accusing China and India of “fueling Russia’s war machine.

Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and Central Asian states, the SCO has expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran, making it the world’s largest regional bloc by population. Its agenda has widened from security to include energy, trade, infrastructure, and digital governance.

As China rolled out the red carpet for 20 world leaders, the summit underscored both the SCO’s growing influence and the fractures shaping global politics.