Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed their anti-Western agenda at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The leaders called on member states to resist external interference and strengthen regional cooperation, positioning the SCO as a counterweight to what they view as U.S. "hegemony" in global affairs.
President Xi Jinping urged unity among SCO countries, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and sovereignty in maintaining regional peace and development.
"We should join hands to resist external interference, firmly support each other, and control our future and destiny," President Xi remarked during the summit.
President Putin echoed these sentiments, highlighting the rise of new political and economic centers and advocating for a multipolar world order.
"The circle of states that defend a just world order is expanding," Putin stated, applauding Belarus's recent accession as the SCO's tenth member.
The summit, attended by leaders from SCO member states including India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, underscored the bloc's growing influence in Eurasia. The SCO, initially established in 2001, has evolved into a platform for security and economic cooperation, challenging Western-led initiatives in the region.
Despite internal disagreements and territorial disputes among its members, the SCO's joint declaration emphasized the need for enhanced global and regional security amidst increasing geopolitical tensions.
The declaration criticized unilateral military build-ups and advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza, reflecting SCO's stance against what it perceives as destabilizing actions by unspecified countries and regional alliances.
In addition, Pakistan's announcement to host the next SCO summit in October signals continued collaboration within the bloc, despite ongoing global competition for influence in Central Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, absent from the current summit, is expected to attend future engagements in Moscow, marking his first visit since Russia's incursion into Ukraine earlier this year.
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