Leaders of China, Russia, and India Advance Multipolar Cooperation at Landmark SCO Summit

Publication Date: September 1, 2025

Overview

In a pivotal gathering amid shifting international relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. The meetings underscored a commitment to enhanced strategic partnerships, border stability, and economic collaboration, reflecting a broader push for a multipolar world order as global powers navigate U.S.-imposed trade pressures. This summit, the largest in SCO history with over 20 leaders, signals emerging alliances that prioritize mutual interests over rivalry, fostering dialogue on security, trade, and regional peace.

Facts

The 25th SCO Heads of State Council Meeting occurred on September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China, following preparatory events on August 31, with China holding the rotating presidency for 2024–2025.
Xi Jinping welcomed international guests, including Putin and Modi, at a banquet, emphasizing the SCO’s role in promoting peace and development.
Putin participated in the summit and held a bilateral meeting with Modi on the sidelines, discussing ongoing strategic ties.
Modi and Xi met bilaterally, agreeing to maintain peace along border areas, facilitate direct flights, and support visa measures to strengthen people-to-people ties.
The leaders reaffirmed commitments to resolving boundary issues fairly and mutually, while pledging cooperation against terrorism and balanced trade growth.
Historical context: India and China resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and tourist visas in recent years, building on disengagements along their border since 2020, following earlier tensions.

Perspectives

Chinese President Xi Jinping: Stated that China and India are cooperation partners, not rivals, and that border issues should not define overall relations. He advocated for a “cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant,” emphasizing mutual respect, solidarity, and joint efforts to stabilize global trade through expanded economic ties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin: Highlighted the SCO’s importance in fostering a multipolar world, noting Russia’s alignment with China and India on countering discriminatory sanctions and enhancing security cooperation. He expressed support for deepening bilateral relations with India, including trade and investment, as part of broader Eurasian integration.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Affirmed India’s commitment to peace and tranquility along borders, mutual cooperation on terrorism, and strategic autonomy. He stressed that India-China relations should be based on mutual respect and interest, inviting Xi to the 2026 BRICS Summit in India to further multilateral dialogue.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretariat: As the hosting framework, the SCO emphasized collective responsibilities for regional stability, anti-terrorism efforts, and economic connectivity, with the Tianjin Declaration expected to outline joint actions for a fairer international order involving member states like Belarus and Iran.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: Attending as an observer, he welcomed the summit’s focus on multilateralism and global challenges, underscoring the need for inclusive platforms like the SCO to address security and development amid geopolitical shifts.
BRICS Grouping (as represented by leaders present): The discussions reflected BRICS’ shared goal of countering external economic pressures, with commitments to protect common interests through diversified trade and investment, drawing from prior Kazan summit outcomes in 2024.

Considerations

Strengthening SCO and BRICS mechanisms could accelerate a multipolar global order, reducing reliance on unilateral trade policies and promoting alternative financial systems in the short term.
Enhanced India-China border stability may enable long-term infrastructure projects under initiatives like China’s Belt and Road and India’s Crossroads of Peace, boosting regional connectivity.
Joint anti-terrorism efforts among China, Russia, and India could improve security in Asia, addressing cross-border threats while fostering intelligence-sharing protocols.
Amid U.S. tariffs, increased trilateral economic cooperation might diversify supply chains, stabilizing global markets and encouraging investments in emerging sectors like AI and renewable energy.
The summit’s emphasis on people-to-people ties, such as direct flights, could enhance cultural exchanges in the near term, supporting long-term diplomatic resilience against external disruptions.