indah-permata
Leaders from Russia and China, along with representatives from over a dozen other nations, are set to converge in Kyrgyzstan for the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The summit, scheduled for Monday, marks a significant gathering as the SCO continues to expand its influence on the global stage.
Historically centered on economic matters, the SCO has been transformed under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. These leaders have leveraged the summit as a platform to propagate their vision of a multipolar world order and to present a united front against Western influence.
Despite the SCO's founding declaration asserting that it is "not an alliance directed against other states," the organization has been increasingly used by Russia and China to articulate their worldview. Last year's summit saw Putin accuse Western countries of provoking the Ukraine war, while Xi criticized "acts of intimidation," a veiled reference to US-China tensions.
The summit is expected to draw the participation of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, although Turkey is not an official member of the SCO. Pezeshkian is anticipated to engage in bilateral discussions with Putin in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, following a meeting of foreign ministers in July.
Iran's inclusion in the SCO in 2023 has further solidified the organization's military ties with Russia and energy links with China. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's handshake with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the recent SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyrgyzstan symbolizes the growing cooperation between the two nations.
The SCO, with its 10 permanent members and 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, claims to represent approximately 40 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of global GDP. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO's founding, underscoring its evolution from a regional economic forum to a more geopolitical entity.
The summit comes at a time of heightened global tensions, particularly following US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's call for G20 members to re-examine trade terms with China. Bessent, addressing the unsustainable nature of Beijing's $1.2 trillion global trade surplus, emphasized the need for China to rebalance its economy.
During the G20 finance leaders meeting in the United States, Bessent also indicated plans to hold a bilateral meeting with People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng, although details of the meeting were not disclosed.
The SCO summit is thus poised to be a pivotal event, where leaders from across the globe will gather to discuss economic, security, and geopolitical issues. As the SCO continues to grow in prominence, its role in shaping the international order is likely to become increasingly significant.
Comments (0)