During the opening of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China, Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin delivered pointed criticisms of the West. The summit aims to position Beijing at the forefront of regional relations, gathering around 20 leaders from the Eurasian region.
Xi emphasized the need for a global system rooted in justice, stating, “We must promote a historical perspective on World War II and oppose Cold War mentalities, bloc politics, and intimidation tactics employed by certain nations,” subtly referencing the United States.
The summit commenced just days ahead of a significant military parade in Beijing celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization consists of 10 member states: China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, with 16 additional observer or partner countries. This coalition represents nearly half of the world’s population and accounts for 23.5% of global GDP, positioning itself as a counterbalance to NATO, with several member states rich in energy resources.
Xi remarked that “the current international situation is becoming chaotic and complex, and the security and developmental challenges facing member states are increasingly daunting.”
He added, “As the world experiences turmoil and transformation, we must continue to move forward and fulfill the organization’s missions more effectively.”
Putin, in his address, defended the Russian military action in Ukraine, blaming the West for igniting a conflict that has resulted in countless casualties and significant destruction in Eastern Ukraine.
He stated, “This crisis did not arise from Russia’s attack on Ukraine but was the result of a coup in Ukraine supported and instigated by the West.” He further noted that “a second cause of this crisis is the West’s persistent efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO.”
Putin arrived on Sunday morning away from the media spotlight, despite leading a substantial political and economic delegation, as reported by Russian and Chinese state media.
Xi engaged in a series of consecutive bilateral meetings with several leaders, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting China for the first time since 2018.
The summit also features Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Live footage captured Xi, Putin, and Modi conversing with their interpreters present.
During the discussions, Modi conveyed to Xi that India is committed to “advancing our relations based on mutual trust and dignity.”