Why in News?

PM participated in the 25^th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, held in Tianjin, China.  

• Tianjin Declaration condemned terrorism (Pahalgam attack); urged an end to cross-border terrorism & use of extremist groups for mercenary purposes. 
• Laos accepted as a partner country; SCO’s total strength– 27. 
• Global Governance Initiative (GGI) promotes sovereign equality, multilateralism, and a just global order, reflecting India’s “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.  
  • Member states opposed unilateral coercive measures like economic sanctions that violate UN and WTO principles. 
• Welcomed UNGA resolution against Nazism, neo-Nazism, racism, and xenophobia. 
  • Condemned military actions in Gaza & Iran, stressing inclusive governance in Afghanistan for lasting peace. 
• Emphasized establishing an SCO Development Bank. 

SCO's Role and Corresponding Challenges in Global Multilateralism 

• SCO represents 23% of global GDP and 42% of the world’s population, amplifying the Global South's voice and challenging Western alliances. 
  • Central Asian states feel dominated by China and Russia, undermining the "Shanghai Spirit" of equality. 
• SCO addresses security concerns via the Afghanistan Contact Group and RATS, tackling terrorism, separatism, and extremism. 
  • RATS exercises lack impact on actual terrorist groups, with members like Pakistan undermining credibility. 
• SCO promotes economic cooperation through INSTC, Chabahar Port, and the SCO Business Council & Interbank Consortium. 
  • SCO agreements, such as the Transport Agreement, are poorly executed, and intra-regional trade in Central Asia remains far behind ASEAN (25%). 
• India’s initiatives in traditional medicine, Buddhist heritage, and digital inclusion strengthen inclusive development, aligning with Global South aspirations. 
  • Trade growth in Central Asia is driven by local dynamics, not SCO initiatives.