Mon Sep 01 04:37:34 UTC 2025: **Headline: Xi Jinping Pledges $280M in Aid, Calls for Multipolar World at SCO Summit**
**Tianjin, China** – Chinese President Xi Jinping used the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin to advocate for a new world order, pledging 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in aid to member states and a further 10 billion yuan in loans to the SCO banking consortium. Xi urged regional leaders to reject a “Cold War mentality” and championed the SCO as an alternative to the Western-led international system.
In his opening address, Xi emphasized the need for an “equal and orderly multipolarisation” of the world and a “more just and equitable global governance system.” He highlighted the increasing complexities facing member states due to a “chaotic and intertwined” global landscape.
The two-day summit, which commenced on Sunday, drew over 20 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin used the platform to praise the SCO for promoting “genuine multilateralism” and to defend Russia’s actions in Ukraine, blaming the conflict on a Western-backed coup and NATO expansion. He called for a “fair balance in the security sphere” as a prerequisite for lasting peace in Ukraine.
The summit also featured a meeting between Modi and Putin, who reportedly spent nearly an hour discussing matters “face-to-face” prior to an official bilateral meeting. Their interaction, which included a photo of the two leaders holding hands, underscores the importance of the SCO as a platform for diplomatic engagement.
Established in 2001, the SCO has grown from its original six Eurasian members to include 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries. Analysts believe that China is leveraging the summit to promote its vision of a multipolar world and strengthen ties with key nations like India amidst a shifting global geopolitical landscape.
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