The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, held in Tianjin, China. More than 20 leaders from non-Western countries attended, underscoring Beijing’s desires to remake the global security order and the economic playing field. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the ongoing challenges posed by the “shadows of Cold War mentality and bullying” while calling for collective efforts to create a “more just and balanced international governance framework.”
On the first day of that summit, Xi Jinping warned that the world has entered “a new era of upheaval and change.” He noted that this crisis has pushed global governance to a breaking point. His comments clearly resonated with the accomplished leaders in the audience. Among them was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised to bolster security cooperation and resolve their decades-old border dispute. Combined, China and India make up more than a third of Earth’s current human population of about 2.8 billion people, making their cooperation all the more important.
The summit took place under intensifying domestic pressure on either country from high U.S. tariffs. This economic backdrop of strain amplified the need for closer relations between China and India. Modi’s display of camaraderie with Russian President Vladimir Putin, captured in a photo taken inside Putin’s armored Aurus limousine, highlighted the strategic alliances being fortified during the summit.
China is not shy about flexing its muscles to charismatically strengthen its hegemonic leadership over the SCO. This year, for example, the country has pledged 2 billion yuan (about $280 million) in free aid to member states. On top of that, Beijing is expected to extend an additional 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in loans during the next three years. These fiscal pledges are intended to accelerate the area’s growth. They are further enforcing greater alignment of their member nations into a more integrous form of cooperation under Chinese leadership.
The Tianjin Declaration that came out of the summit reaffirmed countries’ commitments to work together, including on cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI). The declaration emphasized “equal rights of all countries to develop and use AI,” reflecting China’s push for an inclusive approach to technological advancement. Specifically, Xi Jinping proposed the creation of an international organization focused on aligning global cooperation to realize regulatory objectives for rapidly evolving AI technologies.
To that end, Beijing hopes to establish a joint research and development center for AI applications between member states. They’re dedicated to advocacy for open-source AI models and diffusion of cutting-edge technologies. Paul Triolo, a partner at DGA Group, noted that “Beijing has leaned into ‘open-source large-language-models’ as productivity infrastructure.” He pointed out challenges related to “how or if to regulate the use of open source models across borders.”
Wendy Cutler, the senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, focused on the difficulties of improving trade relations. In her remarks, she highlighted how new geopolitical tensions compound these complexities. She cautioned that improving trade ties will not be easy, suggesting that the road ahead is likely to be strewn with challenges even after the diplomatic overtures of the summit.
The SCO summit truly offered a unique and dynamic platform for leaders. During their trip, they participated in high-level discussions focused on regional security, economic cooperation, and technological development. Xi Jinping’s call for unity and collaboration resonated throughout the proceedings, as member states navigated a landscape characterized by uncertainty and change.