China's Significant SCO Summit: Participants and Meeting Agenda Revealed
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit Gathers World Leaders in Tianjin
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is set to host its largest summit yet on August 31, 2025, in Tianjin, China. The regional security forum, which represents approximately 42% of the world's population and around a quarter of global GDP, will welcome more than 20 world leaders.
Founded in 2001 with a goal of enhancing regional security and stability, the SCO has expanded since its inception, suggesting a growing influence and importance in global politics. The organization currently consists of 10 nations: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, and most recently, Indonesia.
The SCO's geographical scope, which includes China, Russia, and several Central Asian countries, suggests a potential focus on regional security issues in those regions. The summit will be attended by high-profile guests such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders from the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.
The Southeast Asian bloc is China's top trading partner, with total trade reaching 1.7 trillion yuan (US$234 billion) in the first quarter of this year, marking a 7.1% year-on-year increase. Analysts attribute this growth in trade to the US tariffs on China during the 2018 trade war, which led Chinese manufacturers to pivot to Southeast Asia.
The summit provides an opportunity for leaders to expand trade and investment exchanges. The SCO is often viewed as Eurasia's counterbalance to US-led frameworks like NATO and the G7.
Notable attendees from the Southeast Asian bloc include Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Malaysia, under the leadership of Anwar, has adopted a China-friendly and West-sceptical stance. Indonesia, on the other hand, has shown a desire to engage but not to be perceived as part of a Sino-Russian-led military and security cooperation forum.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn will also attend the summit. However, leading European representatives, including heads of state or government from European Union countries, will not participate. The SCO's membership and observer/dialog partner status mainly include Russia, Belarus, and Turkey as European representatives, but there is no indication that any leading European politicians from these countries planned to attend or not attend this specific summit.
The SCO summit takes place amidst geopolitical and trade tensions, making it an important gathering for discussions on regional security and economic cooperation. Projects under the Belt and Road Initiative continue to grow, further strengthening the SCO's influence in Eurasia.
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