Why in news?
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, also known as the 25th SCO Summit, was held from August 31 to September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China.

• This summit was the largest in SCO's history and marked the fifth time China hosted the event.
• The main venue was the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center, with extensive preparations including infrastructure upgrades and volunteer mobilization.

Key Details of SCO Summit 2025:

• Theme: "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move."
• Host: China, with President Xi Jinping chairing the summit.
• Participants: Leaders from 10 full member states including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Also, leaders from observer states and dialogue partners attended, along with heads of 10 international organizations.
• Notable Attendees: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, and others.
• New Member Status: Laos was granted partner status during the summit.
• Key Topics Discussed: Global governance reform, regional security, counter-terrorism, trade and connectivity, digital technology, energy cooperation, climate change, and sustainable development.

Key Outcomes:

• Adoption of the Tianjin Declaration and a development strategy for 2026–2035 for SCO’s growth.
• Signing of 20 significant documents shaping SCO's future agenda.
• Commitments to combat terrorism, radicalization, and terror financing with calls for coordinated action.
• Support for reforming global institutions, including the United Nations.
• Proposals to enhance connectivity projects like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor.
• Emphasis on youth empowerment, startups, and cultural exchange.

Financial Commitments:

• China pledged $280 million in grants and about $1.4 billion in loans to SCO members, with ideas for a new development bank.

Security and Cooperation:

• China and Russia advocated for a new global order promoting true multilateralism, opposing hegemonism and power politics.

India's Role:
Prime Minister framed India’s three-pillar vision for the SCO—Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity—as a comprehensive framework to promote peace, prosperity, and regional integration in Eurasia.

Framing of Each Pillar:

• Security: India emphasized that peace and stability are essential foundations for development. It called for collective, resolute action against terrorism, violent extremism, and cross-border threats, rejecting any double standards in counter-terrorism efforts. Security cooperation was highlighted as a way to build trust and create a safer environment for all SCO member states.

• Connectivity: India positioned connectivity as the backbone of regional cooperation, underlining support for infrastructure projects such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as key enablers of trade and people-to-people exchanges. Enhancing physical and digital connectivity was presented as vital to economic development and integration within the SCO region.

• Opportunity: India extended the vision of opportunity to include economic cooperation, innovation, youth engagement, and cultural exchanges. Advocated boosting startup ecosystems, empowering youth, and strengthening cultural ties to foster inclusive and sustainable growth. This pillar aimed to open new avenues for collaboration beyond traditional diplomatic frameworks.

This summit demonstrated China’s ambitions for reshaping the global economic and security order through the SCO platform and enhanced cooperation among member states spanning Asia, Europe, and beyond. The SCO continues to be a significant regional organization focused on security, economic development, and political cooperation across Eurasia.

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