Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled his vision for a new world order on Monday, urging members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to embrace multipolarity, deepen trade cooperation, and resist Cold War-style divisions.
Addressing more than 20 world leaders at the two-day SCO summit in Tianjin, Xi said the bloc had set “a model for a new type of international relations.”
“We should advocate for equal and orderly multipolarisation of the world, inclusive economic globalisation, and promote the construction of a more just and equitable global governance system,” he said.
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Xi pledged 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in free aid to SCO members this year and 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in loans to the group’s banking consortium.
Economic focus: energy, Ai, and infrastructure
The Chinese leader urged member states to “take advantage of the mega-scale market” to boost trade and investment, highlighting cooperation in energy, infrastructure, science, technology, and artificial intelligence as key growth areas.
The SCO, originally formed by six Eurasian nations, now includes 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer states, reflecting its growing influence across Asia and beyond.
Leaders show solidarity from global south
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia attended the opening ceremony, showcasing a major display of Global South solidarity.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised China’s “fundamental” role in upholding multilateralism, while analysts said Beijing was positioning the SCO as an alternative to the U.S.-led order.
Subtle jab at washington
Without naming the United States directly, Xi urged members to “oppose Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation” and defend multilateral trade systems. His remarks came days after U.S. tariffs — imposed by President Donald Trump — hit Indian exports with a 50% levy, drawing criticism across developing economies.
The summit also provided an opportunity for Beijing and New Delhi to mend strained ties. Modi, on his first visit to China in seven years, met Xi on Sunday, where both leaders agreed their nations were “development partners, not rivals.” Talks focused on easing trade frictions amid global tariff uncertainty.
