Chinese President Xi Jinping called on regional leaders to oppose “Cold War mentality” and “bullying behavior” in global affairs, emphasizing the need for a more just and equitable global governance system.
Xi’s remarks came during a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where leaders from over 20 countries gathered to discuss regional security and development challenges.
“We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying practices,” Xi said, urging member states to strengthen trade and investment facilitation.
He emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in energy, green industries, digital economy, and artificial intelligence to drive modernization.
The SCO, established in 2001, has grown from a grouping of six Eurasian nations to comprise 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries.
Xi said the organization has achieved “ground-breaking and historic results” by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, and mutual respect. He stressed that the bloc must continue to uphold these values to meet the increasingly complex challenges of security and development.
Xi’s speech highlighted the need for an “equal and orderly multipolarisation” of the world, where the SCO plays a constructive role in stabilizing the global economy. He called on member states to take advantage of the “mega-scale market” to improve trade and investment facilitation, promoting unity and cooperation.
“We must seek common ground while shelving differences, promote unity rather than division, and advance cooperation instead of confrontation,” Xi said, emphasizing the importance of multilateralism. He also urged the SCO to advocate for fair and just global governance, stressing support for multilateral trade structures.
As part of China’s efforts to strengthen economic cooperation within the SCO, Xi announced new initiatives, including 100 “small but smart” livelihood projects and an additional 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in development loans. China will also provide 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in grant assistance to SCO member states this year.
“We must take advantage of the mega-scale market… to improve the level of trade and investment facilitation,” Xi said, highlighting the potential for economic cooperation within the bloc.
The SCO summit comes amid a shifting geopolitical environment, with analysts suggesting that China aims to promote an alternative to the United States-led global order. The gathering also provides an opportunity for China to repair ties with India, which have been strained in recent years.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit, and Indian officials have indicated a commitment to improving ties with China.
“India is committed to improving ties with China,” Modi told Xi, appearing to mark a waning of strategic ties with the US after President Donald Trump slapped punishing tariffs on Indian goods.
As the SCO continues to play a significant role in regional affairs, Xi’s call for opposing “Cold War mentality” and promoting multilateralism reflects China’s vision for a more multipolar world order.
The summit’s outcomes are expected to shape the future of regional cooperation and global governance, with implications for international relations and economic development.
