TIANJIN, 1 September 2025 – At the largest-ever summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a landmark vision for a new global order—one that challenges U.S. dominance and champions multilateralism, equitable economic governance, and regional solidarity. Over 20 world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi, assembled in northern China to hear Xi’s message, which positions the SCO as a modern alternative to Western-led blocs.
A Strategic Push for Multilateralism
Framing the SCO as a driver of inclusive globalisation, Xi denounced the Cold War mentality and economic protectionism, offering 2 billion yuan in aid and 10 billion yuan in loans to establish an SCO banking consortium. “We should advocate for equal and orderly multipolarity… promote a more just and equitable global governance system,” Xi stated, while urging SCO members to harness the bloc’s “mega-scale market”—notably in trade, energy, infrastructure, technology, and artificial intelligence.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised China’s role in upholding global multilateralism, reinforcing its image as a stabilising force amid growing geopolitical turbulence.
Bridging Historical Tensions
Xi seized the moment to temper longstanding regional friction. His dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Modi included gestures of cooperation, symbolised by Xi’s comment that the “dragon and elephant must come together”—an olive branch signaling mutual economic interests and a shared path toward stability.
Meanwhile, bilateral and multilateral cooperation expanded across Eurasian partners, with leaders attending from Iran, Turkey, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and other nations seeking a multipolar counterweight to Western institutions.
Elevating the SCO’s Role
Xi told summit delegates that the SCO bears “greater responsibility” to safeguard regional peace and prosperity, signalling a shift from security coordination to an expanded agenda of economic integration and global governance.
For Southeast Asia, Xi’s vision underscores a new geopolitical paradigm where Western dominance is counterbalanced by a China-led multilateral axis. Organizations such as ASEAN stand to benefit from alternative development platforms, funding mechanisms, and infrastructure collaboration.
Malaysia and neighbouring economies observing Xi’s push may increasingly leverage SCO engagements to diversify their diplomatic and economic alignments—especially as trade tensions and global uncertainties persist. The rise of a multipolar order offers Southeast Asia the opportunity to navigate between global power centers while forging an independent regional stance.
