The Shanghai Cooperation Organization held its annual summit in Tianjin, China, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Established in 2001 to strengthen cooperation among Central Asian states alongside China and Russia, the organization has since expanded to include ten full members — including India and Pakistan — as well as two observer states and 14 “dialogue partners.” The 2025 summit marked a significant moment for China, drawing global attention with the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Each country’s representative at the summit came with their own objectives, so we asked four experts to identify key outcomes for some of the most important countries at the summit: China, Russia, India, and the core Central Asian states.Read more below.Rorry Daniels Managing Director of Asia Society Policy InstituteChina’s key outcome was the demonstration of its convening power and influence among countries dissatisfied with the Western-led international order. China’s economic and political weight across the Indo-Pacific prompted high-level attendance, and for some leaders, an invitation from Beijing softened the poor optics of standing beside pariahs like Russia, Myanmar, and Iran.China is presenting itself as an alternative to Washington’s trade and political pressure. Modi’s attendance, and his private bilateral meeting with Putin, advances Beijing’s preferred narrative that the developing multipolar global order should be based on power politics and leverage rather than rules. For countries like India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, Beijing’s willingness to act as an option creates space to stand tough with the Trump administration.China also seized the timing of leader-level visits by hosting a massive military parade where Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping stood center with Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, further reinforcing the message that China is not afraid of confrontation with what it sees as a declining West.Joseph Webster Senior Fellow
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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization held its annual summit in Tianjin, China, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Established in 2001 to strengthen cooperation among Central Asian states alongside China and Russia, the organization has since expanded to include ten full members — including India and Pakistan — as well as two observer states and 14 “dialogue partners.” The 2025 summit marked a significant moment for China, drawing global attention with the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Each country’s representative at the summit came with their own objectives, so we asked four experts to
