Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host over 20 world leaders at a regional security forum next week, showcasing his country’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region and seeking to demonstrate solidarity with the Global South.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit will be held from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend for the first time in over seven years. The two leaders have been working to defuse tensions between their nations, which were exacerbated by deadly border clashes in 2020.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will also be present, but his stay will be extended to participate in a World War Two military parade in Beijing later in the week. Analysts say the summit is more about optics than substance, with China seeking to counterbalance Western influence and promote its own vision for international relations.
The SCO has expanded its membership to 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue countries, and its remit now includes economic and military cooperation. However, critics argue that the bloc’s effectiveness in addressing security issues remains limited.
Despite these concerns, experts expect significant discussions on trade, connectivity, and people-to-people engagement between India, China, and other SCO member states. The meeting is seen as a key opportunity for Xi to showcase his leadership and promote Chinese interests globally.
China values the optics of Global South solidarity in the face of US uncertainty, and this summit is no exception. As Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, noted: “Xi will want to use the summit to demonstrate what a post-American-led international order begins to look like.”
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/powerful-optics-chinas-xi-welcome-putin-modi-grand-show-solidarity-2025-08-26