Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit Highlights

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025, held in Tianjin, China, brought together heads of state, observers, and partner nations to discuss pressing global and regional challenges. Key themes included counterterrorism, regional security, UN reforms, sustainable development, and artificial intelligence governance. India emphasized its vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, while China advanced initiatives such as the BeiDou satellite system and a proposed SCO development bank. The declaration also addressed regional conflicts, non-proliferation, and inclusive growth, making the summit a pivotal moment in shaping the geopolitical and economic landscape of Eurasia.

Important details from the declaration

• Rejected the use of unfair tactics in counterterrorism efforts and underlined the significance of international collaboration in halting terrorists’ cross-border movements.
• Condemned the terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (but did not mention Pakistan).
• Denounces the U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.
• Improving the participation of developing nations in the UN’s governing bodies in order to bring the organization into line with contemporary reality.
• Advocated for equal rights for all nations in the creation and application of AI. 
• Acknowledged India’s “One Earth, One Family, One Future” global vision, underlining the nation’s leadership in advancing sustainable and equitable development.
• China has committed $1.4 billion in loans over three years and suggested establishing a SCO development bank as part of its efforts to increase the SCO’s influence. SCO members can now utilize China’s BeiDou satellite system, which is an alternative to GPS.

The SCO plus summit, which China convened, brought together heads of important international organizations, member nations, observers, dialogue partners, and honored guests. According to the Indian Prime Minister’s statement during the summit, the SCO is based on three main pillars: opportunity (Nourishing Mutual Opportunities), connection (Revolutionizing SCO as a “connectivity” hub), and security (Security of the Region).

Mains: 

Question: With growing concerns around Artificial Intelligence, the SCO has called for equal rights for all nations in AI development and governance. Discuss the opportunities and risks for India in this emerging technology discourse.

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MCQs:

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Question: Consider the following statements regarding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 held in Tianjin, China:

1. The summit condemned the terrorist incident in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam but refrained from naming Pakistan.
2. The declaration supported the creation and equitable application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies among all nations.
3. The SCO endorsed U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran as legitimate counterterrorism measures.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

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