At a recent international summit, China’s President Xi Jinping voiced his severe disapproval towards what he termed ‘bullying conduct’, prevalent in current global affairs. In presenting his viewpoint, he sought to position Beijing at the forefront of this discussion, within the Eurasian geopolitical realm. Distinguished attendees at this significant gathering were, notably, leaders of countries part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), comprising ten nations: China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. The SCO’s goal is to foster a non-Western model of cooperation, presenting itself as an alternate option to traditional interconnected alliances.
In his address to global leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko, and other authorities, President Xi emphasized the current global political climate’s increasingly ‘complicated and interconnected’ nature. He vehemently criticised ‘bullying tactics’ employed by specific nations. He added that the already intricate challenges ‘with respect to the security and development, that each member country is currently facing, have only been further complicated’. This segment of his speech was delivered within the choicest attention of all dignitaries present, in the major North China port city of Tianjin.
‘As future-oriented leaders confronting a world in a state of flux, and transforming at a rapid pace, our commitment should be unwavering to uphold the essence of the Shanghai spirit. Consequently, we must advance our potential and foster better functionality within the SCO,’ said President Xi. These remarks were directed towards the future objectives of the SCO, and the spirit of collaboration it represented.
Prior to the hosting of the summit, major figures such as Putin, Lukashenko, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi were welcomed with a grand red carpet entrance. A ceremonial group picture was taken to mark the beginning of the gathering. Additionally, the media spotlight focused on President Xi, Putin, and Modi as they were engaged in pleasant conversation, standing alongside their official interpreters.
The SCO’s meeting, which began on Sunday, is not a closed group. Instead, it incorporates another sixteen countries who join as observers or ‘dialogue partners’. Putin arrived in Tianjin on Sunday, accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking political figures and representatives of the business community.
Throughout the summit, President Xi was seen conducting a series of one-on-one talks with various leaders, including Lukashenko and Modi. Importantly, this is Modi’s inaugural visit to China post-2018. During their meeting, Modi extended India’s dedication towards ‘strengthening our mutual ties, underpinned by principles of mutual respect, dignity and sensitivity’.
While India and China are two of the world’s most populous countries, they are also marked by their intense rivalry. They have historically competed for influence in South Asia and have experienced fatal border disputes as recent as 2020. However, signs of a possible easing of tensions were visible in October last year, when Modi and Xi had their first meeting in half a decade.
This reconciliation, which is emerging between both nations, was further propelled amidst the pressuring trade tariffs imposed by former US President Donald Trump. This condition has allowed both Asian giants to rethink their competitive premise and look towards possible mutualities.
The SCO has occasionally been presented by China and Russia as an alternative bloc to established organizations like NATO. This was evident in the official posters displayed across Tianjin during the summit. These boasted phrases such as ‘mutual benefit’ and ‘equality’, inscribed in both Chinese and Russian.
This year’s SCO summit meeting is the largest one since its inception in 2001. More than 20 leaders, including Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gathered for this significant assembly.
Putin’s schedule for the near future involved important dialogues on Monday with Erdogan and Pezeshkian. The anticipated subjects were the prolonged conflict in Ukraine and Tehran’s nuclear program respectively.
The post China’s Xi Jinping Condemns ‘Bullying’ at SCO Summit appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
