China Ramps Up Push for New Global Order at SCO Summit

TIANJIN — Chinese President Xi Jinping used a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to unveil an ambitious blueprint for a new global security and economic order, presenting a direct challenge to the American-led international system. In opening remarks at the summit, held in northern China's port city of Tianjin, Xi urged members to leverage their collective "mega-scale market" and unite against what he described as a "Cold War mentality."

Addressing more than 20 world leaders, Xi asserted that the SCO has established a new model for international relations. He called for "equal and orderly multipolarisation" and "inclusive economic globalisation," aiming to promote a more just and equitable global governance system. To bolster this vision, China committed 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in free aid to member states and a further 10 billion yuan in loans to an SCO banking consortium.

The summit served as a powerful display of Global South solidarity, with leaders from Russia, India, and countries across Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia in attendance. Xi's remarks were viewed by analysts as a clear criticism of the United States' recent foreign policy under President Donald Trump. He implicitly condemned the use of trade tariffs and the formation of exclusive blocs, urging SCO partners to support multilateral trade systems instead.

The gathering also provided a key opportunity for China to mend diplomatic ties with India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first visit to China in seven years, and President Xi held talks and agreed that their countries should be considered development partners, not rivals. This marks an effort to improve trade relations and cooperation amid persistent border tensions and broader geopolitical uncertainties.

The security-focused SCO, which has expanded to include 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries, is seen by Beijing as a cornerstone of its vision for a new global framework. By hosting the largest-ever summit, China aimed to demonstrate a compelling alternative to the American-led order and solidify its role as a leader in international governance.