China, Russia Promote New Global Order at SCO Summit

Tianjin, China – At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, China and Russia presented their vision for a new international order, highlighting their ambitions to shape global politics and economics in ways that reflect their influence. Leaders from more than 20 countries, mostly from Asia and the Middle East, gathered in Tianjin on Sunday and Monday to discuss security, economic cooperation, and multilateralism.

Xi Jinping Critiques U.S. Dominance

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the summit by emphasizing that global governance is at a crucial crossroads. Many observers interpreted his speech as a critique of the United States and its global influence. Xi said, “We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practise true multilateralism.” This statement underlined China’s opposition to the dominance of any single country in global affairs and its desire to promote a system where all nations have a voice.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

Putin’s Support for Multilateralism

Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed Xi’s message, praising the SCO’s role in fostering “genuine multilateralism.” He highlighted the organization’s goal to establish “political and socioeconomic stability in Eurasia.” Both leaders signaled that the SCO is not only a platform for discussion but also a tool to challenge the influence of Western-led institutions.

SCO: An Alternative Power Structure

The SCO was founded in 2001 and now has ten full members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, and several Central Asian countries. In addition, more than a dozen countries hold permanent dialogue partnerships, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cambodia, and Turkey. Traditionally, the SCO’s work has been symbolic, with limited impact on global decisions. However, this summit showcased China’s intention to strengthen the organization and expand its influence.

New Financial Initiatives

A significant highlight of the summit was Xi Jinping’s announcement of a new SCO development bank. Alongside this, he offered financial incentives to SCO members, including 2 billion RMB (around $280 million) in grants and an additional 10 billion RMB (around $1.4 billion) in loans. This move signals a major shift for the SCO from being largely symbolic to becoming a financial and economic force.

Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, noted, “Since the SCO’s founding 24 years ago, it has been a largely ineffective body with very few notable accomplishments. This is likely to change as the membership expands and Xi backs the SCO with development finance money.”

Global Governance Initiative

Xi also introduced the “Global Governance Initiative” (GGI), a plan aimed at reshaping how countries interact globally. While Xi did not provide extensive details, the initiative emphasizes principles such as multilateralism and sovereign equality. Analysts view this as an effort by China to create a parallel global system outside the current U.S. and European-led order.

Olander explained, “With the GGI, Xi is basically saying the quiet part out loud. China is seeking to create a parallel global governance system that challenges the influence of the U.S. and Europe, something unimaginable a decade ago.”

Growing Distrust of the U.S.

China’s push for multilateralism and an alternative global order comes amid increasing tensions with the United States. Under former President Donald Trump, U.S.-China trade disputes created friction that encouraged other countries to consider alternatives to Western-led institutions. For instance, Trump’s trade policies helped thaw diplomatic tensions between China and India, which had worsened due to border skirmishes in 2020.

At the summit, Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to resolving their differences, showing that the SCO can also act as a platform for easing regional conflicts. The summit occurred just days after the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods and criticized India for purchasing Russian energy, highlighting the geopolitical context of the SCO’s activities.

Diplomatic Unity Among Leaders

Photographs from the summit show Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi walking and talking together, signaling a display of diplomatic unity. This public display was seen as an effort to strengthen ties among SCO members while presenting a united front against external pressures.

Upcoming Events and Global Attention

Most world leaders attending the SCO summit are expected to remain in China to participate in a large military parade in Beijing. This event will commemorate the end of World War II in Asia and will include high-profile leaders like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, who is expected to have a prominent role alongside Xi and Putin. The combination of the SCO summit and the military parade underscores China’s growing confidence and its efforts to project power on the international stage.

SCO’s Future Role

The announcements at the SCO summit point to a larger ambition by China and Russia to influence global governance. By offering loans, grants, and a new development bank, the SCO may become an economic and political counterweight to U.S. and European-led institutions. Analysts suggest that the SCO’s growing role will attract countries from the Global South, seeking greater participation in global decision-making and financial opportunities outside Western-dominated systems.

Eric Olander noted, “The SCO is now entering a new era. With financial backing and clear ambitions, it could become an influential player in global politics, helping China and Russia build a system that reflects their vision of the world.

The SCO summit in Tianjin marked a turning point for the organization. Leaders of China and Russia outlined plans for financial support, economic cooperation, and multilateral governance, aiming to create an alternative global order. While details of some initiatives remain unclear, the summit clearly showed a shift in global power dynamics. Countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia are now exploring new partnerships and financial opportunities, signaling that the international system may gradually move toward a more multipolar structure.

By emphasizing multilateralism, financial cooperation, and diplomatic unity, China and Russia are positioning themselves as key architects of a new world order, reflecting the changing priorities of global politics in the 21st century.