China showcased its growing global influence during the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025. The meeting, the largest in the bloc’s history, brought together more than 20 heads of state and 10 international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Under Beijing’s 2024-2025 chairmanship, the summit served as a platform for China to demonstrate leadership and promote its vision of a “new world order” that is less dependent on Western institutions.
From Regional Bloc to Global Player
The SCO began as a regional security forum after the Cold War. In 1996, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan formed the Shanghai Five to resolve border issues and reduce military tensions. It formally became the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2001 with the addition of Uzbekistan.
Since then, the bloc has expanded rapidly. India and Pakistan
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