SCO Tianjin Summit: Deepening Multilateral Cooperation and Jointly Building a New Architecture for Security and Development in Eurasia

From August 31 to September 1, 2025, the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States was held in Tianjin, China. The summit brought together leaders from member states, observer states, and dialogue partners for in-depth discussions on major issues such as regional security, economic cooperation, and global governance. The summit adopted the Tianjin Declaration and several cooperation documents, charting the course for the organization's development in the next five years.

I. Security Cooperation: Addressing Non-Traditional Security Threats

The summit focused on the regional security situation. All member states unanimously agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, combating transnational crime, and cybersecurity. According to data released at the summit, in 2024, the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure thwarted over 30 terrorist plots, and the seizure of illegal weapons flows decreased by 12% year-on-year.

The Tianjin Declaration explicitly requires member states to improve intelligence-sharing mechanisms, establish a joint counter-terrorism training center, and conduct regular cyber attack and defense drills. The Indian representative proposed an initiative to establish an SCO cybersecurity database, which received support from several member states. Furthermore, parties agreed to strengthen technical cooperation in border control and promote the application of biometric technology at ports of entry.

II. Economic Cooperation: Advancing Regional Connectivity

In terms of economic cooperation, the summit approved the "SCO Development Strategy until 2035", focusing on infrastructure connectivity and energy cooperation. Data shows that in 2024, the trade volume among SCO member states reached $6.8 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%, and the stock of mutual investment grew by 11.5%.

Specific projects include:

- Accelerating the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, expected to be fully operational by 2028.

- Establishing an SCO Energy Club to coordinate oil, gas, and electricity trade among member states.

- Launching a digital economy cooperation initiative, planning to establish a regional digital trade platform by 2027.

The Russian representative proposed establishing an SCO Development Bank, which was included in the agenda for the next finance ministers' meeting. Kazakhstan announced it would lead the establishment of a regional grain security reserve network to address potential food crises.

III. People-to-People Exchanges: Expanding Multifaceted Cooperation

The summit passed the "SCO Program on Cultural and People-to-People Cooperation for 2026-2030," designating 2026 as the "SCO Culture Year" and adopting the following measures:

- Increasing the scale of student exchanges among member states from the current 80,000 per year to 150,000 by 2030.

- Establishing an SCO University Consortium, encompassing 30 top universities from member states.

- Setting up a Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Fund with an initial investment of $500 million to support joint research projects.

Pakistan proposed an initiative to establish a Traditional Medicine Cooperation Center, which received support from China. Parties also agreed to strengthen tourism cooperation and implement measures to facilitate regional tourism visas.

IV. Institutional Building: Improving Organizational Structure

The summit decided to:

- Establish an SCO Emergency Ministers Meeting mechanism to enhance joint disaster response capabilities.

- Form an Anti-Corruption Working Group to strengthen cooperation in combating cross-border corruption.

- Expand the Secretariat's staff, adding two Deputy Secretary-General positions for Digital Economy and Sustainable Development.

Iran, as a new member state, participated in the summit for the first time, expressing its intention to actively engage in regional security and economic cooperation. Belarus's accession process is 95% complete, and it is expected to officially become a member state in 2026.

V. Global Governance: Coordinating International Stances

Member states reached the following consensus on global governance issues:

- Support the central role of the United Nations in international affairs.

- Call for reforming the international financial system to increase the voice of developing countries.

- Commit to jointly maintaining the stability of global supply chains.

Addressing climate change, the summit passed the "SCO Green and Low-Carbon Development Action Initiative," pledging to increase the share of renewable energy in the region to 25% by 2030.

VI. International Response and Impact

The international community paid significant attention to this summit. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a video address, affirmed the SCO's important role in maintaining regional stability. A World Bank representative expressed willingness to cooperate with the SCO in infrastructure development.

Analysts pointed out that this summit demonstrated the SCO's trend of transitioning from security cooperation to comprehensive cooperation. A report from the Brookings Institution (USA) suggested that the SCO is becoming one of the most important multilateral cooperation platforms in Eurasia. The European External Action Service expressed hope for dialogue with the SCO on issues such as Afghanistan and counter-terrorism.

Conclusion

The SCO Tianjin Summit showcased the development vitality of the organization as a crucial regional cooperation mechanism. By deepening security cooperation, advancing economic integration, and expanding people-to-people exchanges, member states are jointly building a closer Eurasian partnership. Against the backdrop of profound changes in the global landscape, the SCO will continue to play a significant role in safeguarding regional stability and promoting common development. As decided at the summit, the next Council of Heads of State meeting will be held in Kazakhstan in 2026.