Xi Jinping urges SCO member states to enhance economic cooperation amid US tariffs

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to deepen economic cooperation and harness the advantages of their vast markets, warning against the growing impact of US tariffs on global trade.

Delivering the opening address at the 25th SCO summit in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin, Xi said the bloc must enhance solidarity and strategic coordination to safeguard shared interests. Leaders attending the summit include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside representatives of other member nations.
“The SCO member states are all friends and partners,” Xi declared, urging the group to respect differences while working toward consensus. He emphasized that cooperation should be guided by fairness, justice, and mutual benefit, adding that member states must resist “Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying practices.”
The remarks come as Washington tightens tariffs and renegotiates bilateral trade deals, moves that have unsettled markets across Asia and beyond. Xi warned that protectionist measures threaten not only the global economy but also the stability of supply chains that underpin international commerce.
Highlighting the growing weight of the SCO, Xi noted that the organization now engages with 26 countries, covering cooperation in more than 50 sectors, with a combined GDP close to $30 trillion. “Its influence and appeal on the international stage are rising steadily,” he said.
Xi also urged members to strengthen alignment between their national development strategies and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), framing the BRI as a key driver of regional connectivity and high-quality growth.
To back up his commitments, Xi pledged 2 billion yuan ($280 million) in grants for SCO member states this year. Additionally, China will provide 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in loans over the next three years through the SCO Interbank Consortium, a mechanism designed to boost financial cooperation among member states.
Analysts say Xi’s speech underscores Beijing’s push to use the SCO as a counterweight to Western-led institutions at a time when China faces mounting economic and strategic competition with the US. The call for closer economic integration also reflects Beijing’s bid to secure support from regional partners amid slowing domestic growth and persistent trade tensions.