In one week, the largest summit since the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will commence in Tianjin, where President Xi Jinping will meet with more than 20 foreign leaders and heads of 10 international organizations. Following last year’s „Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus“ summit in Astana, the „Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus“ meeting will once again be held.

A group photo captured an unforgettable moment when the „SCO family“ held a summit in the „Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus“ format for the first time.

Leaders of SCO member states, observer states, guest countries of the host nation, as well as heads of international and regional organizations and multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations Secretary-General, stood side by side at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan.

President Xi Jinping stated at that summit: „Good friends and new partners gathering together to discuss major issues demonstrates that under the new era conditions, the organization’s philosophy is widely welcomed, and member states have friends all over the world.“

„Gathering together“ reflects the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s open and inclusive character, embodying the growing appeal and cohesion of this new type of international organization. Starting with six founding member states and now covering 26 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, the SCO conforms to the trends of the times and aligns with the aspirations of the people.

„Discussing major issues“ aims at harmony and unity, pursuing the noble cause of peace and development. From aligning national development strategies to regional cooperation in security, economy, trade, and culture, and further to building a more just and reasonable global governance system, the SCO has laid solid foundations and advanced pragmatically. The concept of an SCO community with a shared future has increasingly rich connotations, and the grand practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind is progressing steadily.

New and old friends gathering again by the Haihe River in the „Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus“ format confirms the growing relevance of the „Shanghai Spirit“—mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development.

Openness, inclusiveness, and broad-mindedness are inherent traits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as consistent features of Chinese wisdom, philosophy, and initiatives.

„Confucianism advocates ‚pursuing the common good for the world‘ and promotes ‚harmony among all nations, mutual support, and unity under heaven.‘ This concept of ‚harmony and unity‘ shares much common ground with the ‚Shanghai Spirit.'“ At the 2018 SCO Qingdao Summit, President Xi Jinping’s incisive exposition demonstrated broad vision.

Being friendly to neighbors and promoting harmony among all nations is a consistent approach of Chinese civilization. The Chinese philosophy of harmony in diversity and win-win cooperation inherent in this approach aligns with the „Shanghai Spirit,“ which transcends civilizational clashes, Cold War mentality, and zero-sum games.

Looking around the world, despite changing international situations and the countercurrent of unilateral hegemony, the trend of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit is unstoppable. Walking the broad path together and pursuing harmonious coexistence remain the common choice of insightful members of the international community.

From the creative proposal of the „BRICS Plus“ cooperation concept at the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen to the first „Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus“ summit in July 2024… Behind the increasing number of „plus“ signs in multilateral international settings is the trend of unity, cooperation, and joint self-strengthening of the Global South, as well as the pulse of the times moving toward a more just and reasonable global governance system.

In today’s world, the tides of multipolarity, economic globalization, and democratization of international relations are growing increasingly powerful. „Sharing the same globe and helping each other“ and unity and cooperation have become a broad consensus among more and more members of the international community.

Amid an international environment marked by change and turmoil, the SCO Tianjin Summit attracts global attention. With new starting points, new models, and new momentum, relying on the broader platform of „Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus,“ China will work with all partners to jointly promote the „Shanghai Spirit,“ shoulder the mission of the times, and respond to the expectations of the people.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a major Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance originally founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian states. It evolved from the „Shanghai Five“ mechanism, which was formed in the 1990s to resolve border disputes and build mutual trust following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Today, it promotes cooperation on regional security, counter-terrorism, and economic development among its member states.

Tianjin

Tianjin is a major port city in northern China with a history dating back to the Song Dynasty, which grew significantly during the Ming and Qing dynasties as a vital gateway to Beijing. It is renowned for its unique colonial European architecture, a legacy from its history as a treaty port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is a modern metropolis and a key economic center.

Astana

Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, having replaced Almaty in 1997. It was renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019 before reverting to Astana in 2022. The city is known for its modern, futuristic architecture and rapid development as a planned governmental and administrative center.

Independence Palace

The Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, built on the site of the former Norodom Palace. It is most famous as the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon in 1975, when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its gates. Completed in 1966, it served as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a vast, transcontinental nation in Central Asia with a rich nomadic heritage, historically inhabited by Turkic tribes and once part of the Silk Road. It was incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century and later became a republic of the Soviet Union before declaring its independence in 1991. Today, its cultural identity is a unique blend of its ancient nomadic traditions and its modern development.

Haihe River

The Haihe River is a major waterway in northern China, historically formed through centuries of hydraulic engineering to control flooding and improve transportation. It flows through Tianjin and into the Bohai Sea, serving as a critical economic and cultural hub for the region.

Shanghai Spirit

„Shanghai Spirit“ refers to the core principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, and consultation established by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) when it was founded in Shanghai in 2001. It represents a model for international relations that promotes peace, security, and cooperation among member states across Eurasia. This concept has since become the guiding philosophy for the organization’s diplomatic and security initiatives.

BRICS

„BRICS“ is not a physical place but an acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It was originally formed as „BRIC“ in 2006, with South Africa joining in 2010, to promote economic cooperation and influence global financial and political affairs. The group operates through annual summits and has established institutions like the New Development Bank to fund infrastructure projects.