URGENT UPDATE: The highly anticipated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is set to commence in Tianjin, China from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With global tensions escalating, this year’s gathering is expected to draw over 20 foreign leaders and heads of significant international organizations, marking a pivotal moment in international relations.
This summit takes on heightened importance as it occurs amidst the fallout from Donald Trump’s recent 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, prompting India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend for the first time since 2018. The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically since last year, with the SCO now positioned as a vital platform for leaders to discuss pressing global issues.
China’s President Xi Jinping aims to showcase his nation as a stabilizing force capable of uniting the Global South against Western dominance. According to Liu Bin, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister, this summit will be “one of China’s most important head-of-state and home-court diplomatic events this year.”
Leaders expected to attend include:
– Russia’s President Vladimir Putin
– Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian
– Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif
– Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
– UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
The SCO, which began as a security alliance in 1996, now encompasses significant economic powers, accounting for 43 percent of the world’s population and nearly 23 percent of the global economy. However, the bloc faces challenges in achieving consensus on critical issues, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine—where India seeks a balanced role amid conflicting interests.
As the summit unfolds, analysts anticipate discussions on security, trade, and the need for a multipolar world. Manoj Kewalramani, a prominent expert, states, “The summit is significant because it reflects a belief among many that multilateralism is facing existential threats due to US policies.”
The significance of this summit is not lost on global observers, particularly as it coincides with a major military parade in Beijing on September 3, marking the end of World War II in Asia. Many leaders attending the SCO are expected to remain for this event, enhancing the optics of China’s growing influence.
The backdrop of this summit includes ongoing international crises, such as the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank, which further complicate the SCO’s ability to present a unified front. With India calling for the bloc to condemn terrorism linked to Pakistan and facing divisions over responses to global conflicts, the summit’s outcomes may be more symbolic than substantive.
As the world watches closely, the implications for US-China relations and the broader geopolitical landscape may hinge on the interactions between leaders at this summit. The US is particularly interested in the dynamics between India and China, especially following the recent tariffs that have strained relations.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover this developing story from the heart of China. The outcome of this summit could reshape global alliances and influence international trade discussions moving forward.
