The Tianjin Declaration: Under China's Aegis, the SCO Charts a Course for a Eurasian Order

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) concluded their summit on September 1, 2025, with the adoption of the "Tianjin Declaration." More than just a communiqué, the document represents a detailed roadmap for a multipolar world order, heavily shaped by the presidency and strategic vision of China. By hosting the summit, Beijing acted as a catalyst, weaving its national initiatives and diplomatic vision into the very fabric of the organization's future goals.

Economic Engine: The 'Belt and Road' as the Backbone 🛣️

At the heart of the SCO's economic vision is China's unmistakable imprint. The declaration promotes a "Greater Eurasian Partnership," a concept that finds its backbone in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The text not only garners explicit support from nearly all members but also enshrines the strategic goal of "docking" the BRI with the Eurasian Economic Union, creating an unprecedented economic cooperation area driven by Beijing.

This leadership is not merely theoretical. China provides the practical models, such as the "China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone" in Qingdao, cited as an example to follow. The Chinese impetus is also evident in the technological agenda: the push towards a digital economy and the adoption of a roadmap for cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) reflect Beijing's priorities in dominating future sectors and exporting its standards and expertise within the bloc.

Security: A United Front with Chinese Characteristics 🛡️

On the security front, the declaration goes beyond the simple fight against the "three evils" (terrorism, separatism, and extremism). It promotes an "equitable and indivisible" security architecture, opposing "bloc-based confrontation"—language that directly echoes China's long-standing diplomatic doctrine.

Under Chinese influence, the SCO is becoming a platform for a unified and stronger geopolitical voice. The firm condemnations of military aggression against Iran and of the actions that caused a humanitarian disaster in Gaza showcase a cohesive bloc on key international issues. Concepts such as building a "community with a shared future for mankind," actively promoted by China, are now integrated into the organization's security vision, linking military cooperation to a broader ideological framework.

Culture and Development: Beijing's Imprint 🤝

In cultural and social cooperation, China's catalytic role is also clear. The approval of the "SCO Development Strategy to 2035" outlines a long-term vision in which Chinese initiatives serve as a model. For instance, alongside multilateral projects like the designation of a Capital of Tourism and Culture, specific Chinese-led initiatives are highlighted, such as the China-SCO Ice and Snow Sports Demonstration Zone in Heilongjiang.

The declaration also emphasizes a commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection, areas where China is investing massively at a national level and which it now seeks to project as priorities for the entire organization.

Conclusion: A New Era for the SCO

The Tianjin Declaration marks a turning point. The SCO is evolving from a regionally focused security forum into a comprehensive political and economic bloc with global ambitions. This process is unequivocally accelerated and guided by China, which has successfully used its presidency to align the organization's goals with its own strategic agenda. With the presidency passing to Kyrgyzstan, the task will be to implement a vision for the future of Eurasia that increasingly bears Beijing's signature.