Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit Kicks Off in Tianjin, with Pakistan PM in Attendance

Photo by Nahi Khabar 24/7 – via Personal Collection

 Tianjin, China: The long-awaited Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit officially commenced today in Tianjin, gathering over twenty world leaders for the two-day session aimed at reinforcing regional cooperation and multi-polarism.

Prominent Attendees:
The summit is being hosted by China's President Xi Jinping and includes notable participants such as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Leads Delegation:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tianjin yesterday, accompanied by key ministers including FM Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. The delegation is set to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit and participate in its expanded “Plus” format.

Strategic Focus & Bilaterals:
On arrival, PM Shehbaz conveyed that Pakistan aims to further enhance ties with China—its “All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partner”—as well as strengthen partnerships with other regional nations to promote multilateralism, sustainable development, and peace.

He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders including Xi Jinping and engage in strategic discussions to boost trade, investment, and connectivity. The SCO Plus session will feature broader regional dialogue involving heads of state from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and international bodies.

China's Thematic Emphasis:
In his opening remarks, Chinese President Xi underscored the SCO’s evolving role in safeguarding peace and promoting prosperity across its member states.

Meanwhile, India’s PM Modi—on his first visit to China in seven years—joined the summit with expectations to reaffirm India’s strategic autonomy amid rising global realignments.

Geopolitical Context:
This summit reflects the SCO’s ambition to expand its international influence as a counterbalance to Western institutions, although analysts still question the bloc's cohesion given evolving member-driven complexities.