The notion of a bipolar world, once defined by the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, is being reimagined.
At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, signs emerged of a new geopolitical alignment centered around the so-called “Global South.” Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked this framing during the August 31 banquet, positioning the SCO as a counterweight to what he referred to as the “collective West.”
According to state news agency Xinhua, Xi expressed confidence that “with the concerted efforts of all parties, the current summit will be a complete success,” and that the SCO would play “an even more significant role” in global affairs. He framed the organization as a mechanism for uniting emerging economies in the Global South and for advancing “human civilization.”
Founded in 2001 by six countries, the SCO now includes 10 full members, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners, spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa. “Bringing together major emerging market economies and developing countries such as China, Russia, and India, the SCO represents nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of the global economy,” Xinhua noted.
This framing signals that Beijing sees a new geopolitical pole coalescing around China, Russia, and India, a convergence of financial, technological, and military capacities within the SCO framework.
Symbolic Alignments on Display
Group photos from the summit offered a symbolic illustration of emerging alignments. In one image preceding the SCO banquet, Xi Jinping stands flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with other Central Asian leaders, including Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan), Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan), and Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan), grouped closely behind. Another image, taken before the Council of Heads of State meeting, shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi positioned directly behind Tokayev, reflecting the summit’s broader geopolitical weight.
Xi and Modi also met one-on-one, where they agreed to define China and India as partners rather than rivals. Xi reportedly called for both countries to “become good neighbors, good friends, and partners who contribute to each other’s success,” referring to the cooperation as a “dragon and elephant pas de deux.”
Modi, in turn, employed the term “Global South” during his address to the Council of Heads of State, urging reforms to global institutions such as the United Nations. “Constraining the aspirations of the Global South within an outdated framework is a gross injustice to future generations,” he said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who attended the summit, was the implicit target of such reformist appeals. The presence of Tokayev, a former senior UN official, added another layer of diplomatic nuance. Some speculate that Tokayev could be put forward as a future UN Secretary-General by Global South nations.
Putin’s Narrative on Ukraine
In his address, Putin reiterated a narrative long promoted by the Kremlin regarding the war in Ukraine. He described the conflict not as an invasion, but as the result of a “coup d’état in Ukraine” supported by the West and claimed that NATO’s expansion posed a direct threat to Russian security.
While Putin’s framing reflects the official Russian position, it continues to be disputed by Western governments, international observers, and most independent analysts. The war, now in its fourth year, remains a central point of contention between Russia and the broader international community.
Notably, following the Council meeting, Putin was seen taking Modi for private talks in his limousine, another symbolic gesture in an event rich with diplomatic theater.
Tokayev’s Policy-Focused Agenda
Tokayev’s speech stood out for its detail and pragmatism. He endorsed China’s initiative to establish a SCO Development Bank and proposed hosting a regional SCO financial office at the Astana International Financial Center. He also backed the creation of a “Trans-Altai Dialogue” to link Kazakhstan, Russia, China, and Mongolia for infrastructure and trade coordination.
In digital policy, Tokayev supported the formation of a “Global Organization for Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence” and offered to host both the inaugural SCO AI Expert Forum and a 2027 high-level conference on AI in Astana. He also proposed a SCO Center for the Study of Water Issues in Kazakhstan.
The Larger Picture
The Tianjin summit underscored the SCO’s evolving ambition to present itself as a global platform for countries dissatisfied with what they perceive as Western-dominated institutions. Whether this bloc, anchored by China, Russia, and India, can sustain long-term cohesion and deliver on its promises remains to be seen. But as the summit made clear, Beijing is playing a long game, seeking to position the SCO at the center of an emerging multipolar order.
