Context:

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit was held in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, 2025. Hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, it was the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO.

Key Outcomes of the meeting:

·        Tianjin Declaration: Adopted as the central political outcome, emphasizing the SCO's commitment to regional cooperation and stability.

·        Development Strategy for 2026-2035: Approved to outline long-term priorities and direction for the SCO's growth, focusing on economic, security, and cultural cooperation.

·        Cooperation Programme (2026-2030): Aimed at countering extremist ideology within the SCO space, promoting regional security and stability.

·        Roadmap for SCO Energy Cooperation until 2030: Outlining strategies for energy collaboration, sustainable development, and green industry initiatives.

·        SCO Observer Status in CIS: The SCO was granted observer status within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), enhancing its international partnerships.

·        Cholpon Ata Declaration: Cholpon Ata in Kyrgyzstan was declared the SCO's tourist and cultural capital for 2025-2026, promoting cultural exchange and cooperation.

Significance of the SCO for India: 

·        Security: India views regional security, peace, and stability as fundamental for development. Terrorism remains a major threat, and India stresses the need for unity in combating it. SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), can provide a platform for Indis's security and safety.

·        Connectivity: Through SCO, India promotes strong connectivity projects such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor to enhance linkages with Central Asia and Afghanistan.

·        Opportunity: Under India’s presidency in 2023, new cooperation areas like innovation, youth empowerment, and cultural exchanges were introduced. India proposed creating a Civilizational Dialogue Forum to deepen people-to-people ties by showcasing shared heritage.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance established in 2001 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

·        It originated from the "Shanghai Five" border talks in 1996. The organisation has expanded to include ten members, with India and Pakistan joining in 2017, Iran in 2023, and Belarus in 2024.

·        The SCO’s secretariat is based in Beijing, China, and its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) office operates from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

·        The SCO upholds the “Shanghai Spirit,” focusing on mutual trust, equality, and respect for cultural diversity.

Main objectives of SCO: 

The SCO aims to enhance regional stability by combating terrorism, extremism, and separatism through coordinated security measures. Economically, it promotes cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and transport.

·        Politically, it seeks to strengthen mutual trust to foster a more democratic and just international order.

·        Additionally, the SCO encourages cultural exchanges in education, tourism, and the arts.

Conclusion:

The SCO Summit 2025 reaffirmed the organisation’s role as a key player in regional security and economic cooperation. The Tianjin Declaration sent a strong message against terrorism, while the discussions on global governance highlighted the SCO’s vision of a multipolar world order. For India, the summit was a crucial platform to address its security concerns and pursue deeper economic and diplomatic engagement within the region.