Chinese President Xi Jinping is using the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin to underscore three themes he sees as vital for the future: friendship, practical cooperation, and multilateralism.
The two-day summit, running August 31 to September 1, is the largest in the SCO’s history and the fifth time China has hosted the event. Leaders from more than 20 nations and 10 international organizations have convened in the bustling port city to assess the bloc’s progress and chart its course forward.
Enduring friendships
Since the weekend, Xi has held a series of bilateral meetings with visiting leaders, placing emphasis on long-standing ties. With Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Xi spoke of the two nations as “good brothers,” while Madbouly called China a “true partner and friend.” Meeting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Xi hailed the “ironclad” friendship binding Beijing and Phnom Penh. Talks with Myanmar’s Acting President Min Aung Hlaing highlighted the historic “pauk-phaw” bond, while with Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Xi praised seven decades of close neighborly ties.
Expanding cooperation
Economic partnership dominated discussions. With Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi urged deeper alignment on infrastructure, energy, and policy. He encouraged stronger synergy between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Egypt’s “Vision 2030,” while noting joint projects with Cambodia, including the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor. From economic zones in Egypt to cross-border corridors with Myanmar and Nepal, the BRI remained the common thread.
Trade between China and SCO partners has soared, reaching $512.4 billion in 2024. Polling in SCO countries shows broad support for China’s role in promoting connectivity and growth.
Championing multilateralism
Marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end, Xi told UN Secretary-General António Guterres that solidarity and cooperation are the world’s best answers to global challenges. A joint summit statement is expected to reaffirm SCO nations’ commitment to multilateralism, historical truth, and a shared future.
