China has announced that it will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the northern city of Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, while simultaneously condemning global “hegemonism and power politics.”
The announcement was made by China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin on Friday, who emphasized the necessity for world leaders to cooperate on development amid ongoing power politics and challenges posed by unilateral and self-interested political actions, particularly those associated with the United States.
“In today’s world, outdated mindsets of hegemonism and power politics still have influence, with certain countries attempting to prioritise their own interests above others, seriously threatening world peace and stability,” said Liu.
He further noted that “The more complex and turbulent the international situation becomes, the more countries need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to promote common development.”
This year’s SCO summit is expected to convene over twenty world leaders, focusing specifically on global stability and peace. Leaders from the bloc, which collectively encompasses roughly one-quarter of the world’s population, are set to unveil new plans aimed at deepening their cooperation.
Among the leaders attending will be Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting represents the largest gathering of the regional security bloc since its inception.
China aims “to stimulate momentum for cooperation…(and) with the stability and resilience of the SCO, respond to the uncertain and unpredictable factors in the international environment,” according to Liu.
The summit will take place shortly before a large military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Top officials from member states including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Vietnam will also participate. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to attend the summit ahead of hosting US President Donald Trump and other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in October.
The summit will conclude with the signing and release of the Tianjin Declaration, Liu confirmed. The keynote address will be delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with international figures such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also in attendance.
In July, President Xi stated that the SCO “has successfully explored a path of regional cooperation that aligns with the trends of the times and meets the needs of all parties, setting a model for a new type of international relations.”
At the 2024 SCO summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan, member states agreed to intensify cooperation on regional counterterrorism, renewable energy, and the digital economy.
The SCO serves as a counterweight to Western-led power blocs and has pushed for enhanced collaboration among its members in response to an unjust unilateral world order, which is currently experiencing shifts.