Tianjin, China – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is being held in Tianjin, China, where the heads of 20 countries are meeting in a critical two-day session aimed at discussing stability in the region, cooperation, and development.

The meeting, which the Chinese state media termed the biggest annual meeting in the history of the grouping, has seen leaders of Central, South, and Southeast Asian countries, and even the Middle East, coming together to discuss common problems and give a roadmap towards future cooperation.

The opening session of the summit was accompanied by a row of high-profile bilateral sessions and a welcome dinner given by the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Pakistan’s Diplomatic Push and Economic Focus

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif came to the summit and was warmly received by Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the opening session of the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif had a quick discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a more intensive discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the margins of the session.

The meetings with President Erdogan were focused on the worsening of the situation in Palestine, strengthening of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey, it was primarily in the political, economic, and defense spheres.

Prime Minister Sharif also spoke to faculty and students at Tianjin University, where he applauded the amazing progress made by China in eradicating poverty, describing it as a model to the world. He pointed out that the Pakistani government has poverty alleviation at the top of the agenda, and that the youth, who make up 60% of the Pakistani population, are of strategic value.

He also pointed to the great educational connections between the two countries, where there are some 30,000 Pakistani students studying in China now.

In the future, Prime Minister Sharif is expected to lead the Pakistan-China Investment Conference at Beijing on the 4th of September, where he will meet with leaders of key business organizations in a bid to strengthen economic relations.

China’s Vision for a Unified SCO

Chinese President Xi Jinping set the tone of the summit in his address during a welcome dinner of the visiting dignitaries, when he said that the primary task of the summit is to build consensus among all parties, facilitate the speed of cooperation, and map out the roadmap of the development path.

He gave particular attention to the expanding role of the SCO, saying it has a great responsibility to maintain regional peace and stability and advance the development and prosperity of its member states.

President Xi was optimistic that, through the contribution of all the parties, the summit would be a resounding success, and this would facilitate the SCO to have a more significant role in ensuring unity and cooperation.

Xinhua, the state news agency of China, stated that the member states will adopt important documents such as the development plan of the organization over the next decade.

India and China Seek to Mend Fences

One of the most important sideline events was a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was the first time that Modi had been to China in seven years.

In their meeting, Prime Minister Modi is quoted as saying to President Xi that New Delhi will work towards enhancing relations between the two countries. The leaders said they were willing to forget the differences dating back to years of military tension and border wrangles.

In one such video clip that Modi posted on his official X account, he said, We are determined to bring our relationship to the next level based on mutual respect, trust, and sensitivity.

The summit came five days after a steep 50 percent tariff on Indian goods by Washington, an action analysts feel has compelled Xi and Modi to put on a more united front against Western pressure.

Modi also added, there was a sense of peace and stability on the contentious Himalayan border, a location that has been a source of tensions since bloody clashes in 2020.

Indian Propaganda

Although the main aim of the SCO is collective security, cooperation, and regional development, it is reported that India was trying to use the platform to propagate what was termed as anti-Pakistan propaganda. The officials claim that this effort failed, and the summit continued to work on its main mission.

The SCO is geared towards promoting more unity and stability among its many-headed membership. According to President Xi, in his welcome address, the organization has come out as a great power in the creation of a new form of international relations and a community of a common future of mankind, an expression that closely reflects the stakes and ambitious targets of this year’s summit.