SCO Summit 2025: China Strengthens Economic and Strategic Cooperation with Partner Countries

Accrding to Rokna, citing Xinhua Chinese President Xi Jinping held high-level meetings with the presidents and prime ministers of Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on Sunday in the northern port city of Tianjin, ahead of the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, regional cooperation, and advancing common development goals.

During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Xi highlighted that both China and Turkey are major countries with a spirit of independence. He emphasized that the high-level development of bilateral relations serves not only the fundamental interests of both nations but also the broader interests of the Global South. Xi called on both countries to align with global trends of peace, development, and win-win cooperation, working together to establish a more just and equitable system of global governance.

In a separate meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Xi announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Armenia. He noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, bilateral ties have developed in a healthy and stable manner, and the new strategic partnership marks a significant milestone.

Xi reiterated China’s support for Armenia’s membership in the SCO and expressed willingness to collaborate with Armenia to promote genuine multilateralism and advance a shared future for humanity. Pashinyan confirmed Armenia’s commitment to the One-China principle and expressed eagerness to expand economic and trade cooperation, maintain close coordination on international and regional issues, and further develop bilateral relations. Both sides issued a joint statement formalizing the strategic partnership and signed multiple bilateral cooperation agreements.

Xi also met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, expressing China’s support for Azerbaijan’s full membership in the SCO. Xi emphasized the importance of enhancing the efficiency of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and expanding cooperation in traditional sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, and energy, while fostering new growth drivers in emerging fields including the digital economy, green development, and artificial intelligence.

Aliyev expressed Azerbaijan’s readiness to deepen collaboration with China in economic, technological, and tourism sectors, and to work closely within the SCO framework to jointly promote regional and global peace and development. Several bilateral cooperation agreements were signed, covering artificial intelligence, scientific and technological innovation, finance, and media. Senior Chinese officials, including Cai Qi and Wang Yi, attended the meetings.