Tianjin(China), August 31(HS): The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit kicked off in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin, with Chinese President Xi Jinping hosting world leaders amid intensifying geopolitical tensions spanning the Israeli-Gaza conflict, the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, and escalating US-China trade disputes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tianjin Today on August 31 to a grand and carefully choreographed welcome by Xi, underscoring the high-stakes diplomacy unfolding at the largest SCO gathering since the organization’s inception in 2001. Putin’s visit comes amid fierce global scrutiny as Russia continues military operations in Ukraine, recently mounting its second-largest aerial assault, while Russia seeks to consolidate its international alliances through the SCO platform.

Putin emphasized the critical role of the SCO as a stabilizing force for Eurasian solidarity and a vehicle for fostering a multipolar world order. He lauded the unity between Russia and China and underscored their joint opposition to “discriminatory sanctions” by Western powers, which he claimed undermine socioeconomic development across SCO member states and beyond. The Russian leader viewed the summit as a strategic moment to reinvigorate the SCO's influence amid geopolitical headwinds and to push back against the US-led global system.

On the sidelines of the summit, Putin is scheduled to hold pivotal bilateral meetings including high-profile talks with Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. These discussions are expected to focus on conflict resolution efforts concerning Ukraine and coordination over Iran’s nuclear program, signaling Russia’s intent to leverage the SCO as a platform for advancing its foreign policy and economic interests. Kremlin officials have revealed plans to discuss preparations for Putin's upcoming state visit to India, reflecting Russia's efforts to deepen ties with major SCO members facing Western sanctions.

Xi Jinping, asserting China’s leadership in Eurasian diplomacy, extended a warm and ceremonious welcome not only to Putin but also to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking Modi’s first visit to China since 2018 amid eased yet cautious India-China relations after 2020 border clashes. The Chinese leader is expected to use the summit and the upcoming commemorative military parade in Beijing to project China as a cornerstone of Global South solidarity, particularly in the face of mounting US tariff pressures and diplomatic challenges.

The Tianjin summit, themed “SCO Year of Sustainable Development,” seeks to foster cooperation in security, trade, energy, and culture across SCO’s vast member base, which accounts for 42% of the world's population and nearly a quarter of global GDP. The gathering will culminate with the signing of significant declarations and strategic agreements aimed at cementing the SCO’s role in regional stability and global governance.

Following the Tianjin summit, Putin will join President Xi in Beijing for a large-scale military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, symbolizing Sino-Russian solidarity.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar