SCO summit set to highlight Russia, China push for multipolar world

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's annual summit is set to begin in Bishkek, with leaders from Russia, China, India, Pakistan and other member states gathering as the group marks the 25th anniversary of its founding.

The summit comes as geopolitical and economic tensions are intensifying, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping using the SCO in recent years to advance their vision of a more multipolar international order and present a united front against Western influence, reports Al Jazeera.

The SCO's founding charter says the organisation is "not an alliance directed against other states". It has traditionally focused on economic cooperation and regional security, but its meetings have increasingly provided a platform for Moscow and Beijing to criticise Western policies.

At previous summits, Putin has blamed the West for provoking the conflict in Ukraine, while Xi has condemned what he described as "acts of intimidation" amid continuing tensions between China and the United States.

Key leaders and diplomacy

Putin and Xi are among the high-profile leaders expected at the summit, along with the leaders of India and Pakistan.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also attending and is expected to hold bilateral talks with Putin. Iran's participation underscores the closer military and energy ties Tehran has developed with Russia and China since joining the SCO in 2023.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also due to attend as a representative of one of the organisation's "dialogue partners".

The summit is expected to provide opportunities for leaders to discuss bilateral ties alongside the broader SCO agenda, with the participation of major regional powers giving the gathering significance beyond its formal economic and security mandate.

Growing economic tensions

The meeting is taking place against a backdrop of rising global economic friction, particularly over China's trade position.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently criticised China's $1.2 trillion global trade surplus as "unsustainable". He said Beijing was attempting to "export its way out" of a weak domestic economy and said he planned to encourage G20 members to re-examine their trade terms with China.

The comments add to broader tensions over China's exports, industrial capacity and trade practices, as governments seek to address imbalances in the global economy.

A major economic bloc

The SCO comprises 10 permanent members and 15 dialogue partner states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Collectively, the organisation represents approximately 40% of the world's population and about 25% of global gross domestic product.

The scale of its membership gives the summit considerable economic weight, even as differences among its members mean the organisation does not operate as a conventional political or military alliance.

The Bishkek meeting will therefore serve both as a forum for regional cooperation and as a venue for major powers to reinforce diplomatic ties at a time of heightened geopolitical and economic competition.