In a significant display of diplomatic unity, China and Russia have pledged to reshape the global order at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
The gathering, attended by leaders from over 20 countries, primarily from the Middle East and Asia, marked a crucial step towards creating an alternative power structure to US-led international institutions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for “true multilateralism” and a clear stance against “hegemonism and power politics”.
These remarks were echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who highlighted the SCO’s role in reviving genuine multilateralism and laying the groundwork for a new system of stability and security in Eurasia.
The SCO, comprising 10 member countries including China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus, has been largely symbolic since its inception in 2001.
However, Xi’s announcement of a new SCO development bank and $280 million in grants, plus $1.4 billion in loans for SCO members, signals a major turning point for the institution.
This move is seen as a strategic effort to expand the SCO’s membership and influence, particularly in the Global South. According to Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, “With the GGI, Xi is basically saying the quiet part out loud, that China is seeking to create a parallel global governance system outside the US and European-led order”.
Xi’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI) aims to promote multilateralism, sovereign equality, and a more democratic international order. While light on details, the GGI represents China’s vision for a new global governance system, one that diverges from the US-led order.
This shift is attributed to changing perceptions of the US in world affairs and growing demand from the Global South for a greater say in international affairs.
China’s push for multilateralism also comes amid growing distrust with the US under President Donald Trump’s leadership, whose trade war has created common grievances among SCO members, including China and India.
The SCO summit also saw a notable display of unity between China and India, with Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging to resolve their differences. This development comes after Trump’s trade war helped speed up thawing diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The two leaders’ commitment to improving relations is significant, especially given the tensions along their joint border in the Himalayas.
Xi, Modi, and Putin were photographed talking and walking together, further underscoring the diplomatic unity among the SCO member countries.
As the SCO member countries move forward with their vision for a new global order, it remains to be seen how this will impact the existing international institutions and power dynamics.
One thing is certain, however: China and Russia are determined to play a more significant role in shaping the world order, and the SCO is set to be a key platform for this endeavor.
The SCO’s growing influence and China’s increasing financial commitments to the organization signal a potential shift in the global balance of power, with far-reaching implications for international relations and global governance.