The China-hosted Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit concluded on Monday, highlighting Beijing's push to advance its vision for a new global security and economic order in the age of Trump 2.0.  

Joined by more than 20 world leaders, including from India and Russia, the bloc's largest summit wrapped up with a joint declaration signed by ten member states, pledging a deepened strategic alliance in the Global South.

"The declaration sent a joint message advocating fairness over dominance and a commitment to maintaining an open global economy," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference after the summit.

Wang also outlined that one major outcome of the summit was support for a multilateral trading system "in the face of unilateral bullying resurfacing," in an apparent reference to the current US tariffs.

Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries, the SCO has grown to ten member states, with a focus on strengthening the unity of the Global South.

Among the highlights of this year's summit was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance — his first visit to China since the deadly border clashes between the two sides in 2020.

On the sidelines, Modi met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was photographed chatting and laughing with the two leaders in cordial gestures.

Claus Soong, an analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) focusing on the Global South, told DW that the summit "looks pretty good" for Beijing, as it showcased the country's ability to bring together global leaders.

He added, however, that while China continues to exert influence in the region, "how well it is received is another question."

Beijing paving the way for its military parade

During his speech at the summit, China's Xi urged SCO member states to strengthen strategic cooperation and to "safeguard the achievements of World War II victory… and maintain international fairness and justice."

Xi also highlighted "the victory" against Japanese aggression 80 years ago, saying it showcases "the courage, resilience, and perseverance of the Chinese people, and is a legacy to be forever remembered."

The emphasis on World War II throughout the summit comes as China prepares to stage a massive military parade on Wednesday, with Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expected to attend.

"I think that is something significant here. It's kind of like bringing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization under the narrative of China's military parade," Soong told DW.

But questions remain over whether countries gathering in China are embracing Beijing's ideological framing. The leaders of Turkey, Egypt and India, for example, will not attend the parade.

"At least some countries are trying to stay away from fully aligning with China, especially regarding ideology and how the legacy of the Second World War is interpreted and presented," Soong added.

India remains cautious after thawing ties with China

Modi's high-profile visit to China to attend the summit came as US-India relations grew strained after Washington raised its tariffs on a range of Indian goods to as high as 50%.

China and India are among Russia's largest crude oil buyers and have resisted persistent pressure from US President Donald Trump to halt their purchases.

"This is favorable to China in a way that India is not as close to the US," Sana Hashmi, an affiliated scholar with the Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs, told DW.

She added that Beijing had used this year's SCO summit to project to the US that "India is no more a part of your club and now India is coming to our orbit."

After what Modi characterized as a "fruitful" exchange with Xi, both affirmed the two countries are "development partners, not rivals."

Xi also called on Modi to not let border issues "define" bilateral relations.

But from India's point of view, Hashmi said, it is more of "a balancing act" based on self-interest rather than "a breakthrough or reset" in the bilateral relations.

"There is a lack of trust between China and India," she said. "Reviving this China-India-Russia partnership will be like repeating the same pattern and mistake."

How has China addressed regional conflicts?

In the Tianjin Declaration, signed by SCO's ten member states at the end of the summit, no mention of Russia's invasion of Ukraine can be found.

Instead, the SCO has condemned the Israeli and US strikes on Iran earlier this year and the Pahalgam attack, a deadly assault on tourists in India-administered Kashmir in April.

The inclusion has likely given "India sufficient recognition to feel respected," Soong said.

However, India did not join the rest of the bloc's member states in supporting China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a vast global infrastructure and trade development strategy launched by China in 2013.

"India's absence in supporting China's BRI highlights ongoing structural issues in China–India relations," Soong said.

SCO summits have often been criticized for remaining largely rhetorical, rather than producing concrete plans for action, although China has insisted that tangible steps have been taken to ensure the bloc's "better development."

Regarding the pledges coming from the Chinese side, researcher Hashmi said: "It's too early to say if these things are going to be translated into real actions and sincerity."

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru