SCO Summit 2025 Starts Sunday As World Leaders Convene In Tianjin

From Voon Miaw Ping

TIANJIN (China), Aug 30 (Bernama) -- The northern Chinese port city of Tianjin is all set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 starting tomorrow, with leaders from across Eurasia gathering for high-level discussions to chart a new blueprint for the bloc’s multi-dimensional cooperation and development in the next decade.

The Summit, the largest to date since its inception, will convene more than 20 world leaders and 10 heads of international organisations from Aug 31 to Sept 1.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be among the top leaders attending the event, where he has been invited to deliver remarks at the SCO Plus Summit on Sept 1.

This engagement reinforces Malaysia's commitment to regional peace, neutrality and stability within a broader multilateral framework.

Other leaders scheduled to attend include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn are also attending the summit.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Today, its membership has expanded to include Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus, while Mongolia and Afghanistan have been granted observer status.

Among the 14 SCO dialogue partners are Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Maldives.

In preparation, the city has been adorned with banners and welcoming decorations, while security has been tightened, particularly around the main venue, as it prepares to welcome thousands of delegates, including about 3,000 media personnel.

The city’s night view is particularly remarkable, with its skyline and major landmarks along the iconic Haihe River illuminated in vibrant colors.

This marks China's fifth time hosting the annual SCO summit.

The 10-member political, economic and international security organisation encompasses approximately 24 per cent of the world's total land area and 42 per cent of its population.

-- BERNAMA