China's UN chief, Antonio Guterres, emphasizes the importance of multilateralism during a crucial meeting, arguing for its significance.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 is taking place in Tianjin, China, marking the first attendance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2018. This year's summit, reported to be the largest in history, is significant not only for the gathering of world leaders but also for the discussions and decisions that will shape the bloc's next decade of development.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and various Asian and Middle Eastern leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, are attending the conference. The SCO was initially established by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan and has since expanded to include countries like India, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus. The organisation also includes Afghanistan and Mongolia as observer states, and 14 other countries, mostly from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, serve as "dialogue partners."
The SCO summit takes place just a few days before a huge military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II in China. Despite this, the primary focus of the summit remains on charting a blueprint for the bloc's future development. The member countries of the SCO are committed to promoting cooperation, multilateralism, and strengthening ties among themselves.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also attending the summit, expressing gratitude to China for its role as a "fundamental pillar" of the multilateral system. However, he also gave a veiled criticism of the US amid the challenges facing the United Nations. The present state of multilateralism, according to Guterres, is under fire. He described new forms of policy as sometimes difficult to understand, sometimes looking more like a show than serious diplomatic efforts, and where business and politics seem mixed.
The country hosting the annual summit rotates every year. This year, China is hosting the summit in Tianjin, a city known for its rich history and cultural significance. Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Guterres to Tianjin, stating that China would be a "reliable partner" to the UN. Xi Jinping's attendance at the summit is particularly noteworthy, as it comes amidst ongoing tensions between China and several other SCO member countries, including India and the US.
The SCO does not include the United States, a fact that may contribute to the diplomatic significance of this year's summit. The discussions and decisions made at the summit are expected to have far-reaching implications for the region and the world at large. As world leaders gather in Tianjin, the eyes of the global community are on China and the SCO, awaiting the blueprint for the bloc's next decade of development.
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