Ofure Akhigbe
The northern port city of Tianjin took center stage on Sunday as Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed a wave of international leaders ahead of a pivotal Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, set against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical alliances and rising regional tensions.
President Xi hosted bilateral talks at the historic Tianjin Guest House with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The leaders represent three of the 14 nations currently designated as “dialogue partners” within the SCO framework — a status that often serves as a gateway to deeper strategic and economic ties with the bloc.
During the high-level meetings, Xi reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and development partnerships across Asia, the Caucasus, and the Indian Ocean region. “China values its longstanding relations with these nations and seeks to deepen collaboration on shared priorities,” said Xi, according to state media.
Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, the SCO has evolved into one of the world’s largest regional organizations, now including major powers like India, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus. With its broadening membership and expanding mandate, the SCO continues to position itself as a counterweight to Western-led alliances, particularly on issues of regional security and infrastructure development.
Arrivals on Sunday also included Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — two key figures whose presence signals the summit’s global weight. Both leaders are expected to hold closed-door talks with President Xi on the sidelines of the summit.
This year’s meeting takes place just days ahead of a grand military parade in Beijing, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia. The parade is anticipated to showcase China’s military strength and historical narrative of victory over Japanese imperial forces — a symbolic reminder of the country’s enduring influence in shaping regional order.
As the SCO summit opens, attention will focus on how the bloc navigates pressing challenges such as border disputes, trade friction, energy security, and ongoing conflicts in Central Asia and the Middle East.
For now, all eyes are on Tianjin — where diplomacy, defense, and development intersect on the global stage.