{"id":30247,"date":"2025-07-16T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=30247"},"modified":"2025-07-15T23:31:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T20:31:39","slug":"sco-foreign-ministers-meet-in-china-to-lay-groundwork-for-upcoming-leaders-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/sco-foreign-ministers-meet-in-china-to-lay-groundwork-for-upcoming-leaders-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"SCO foreign ministers meet in China to lay groundwork for upcoming leaders’ summit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign ministers from across Eurasia have gathered in Tianjin, China, for a two-day summit of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for high-stakes diplomatic discussions over several pressing global and regional challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The talks, which began on July 15, 2025, have brought together top diplomats from all ten SCO member states: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting, viewed as crucial to lay the groundwork for the upcoming SCO Heads of State Summit scheduled for August 31 to September 1 in the same city, centers on deepening multilateral cooperation, navigating growing geopolitical friction, and charting the bloc\u2019s future direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several critical issues are on the agenda, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the protracted war in Ukraine, and the unresolved tension surrounding Iran\u2019s nuclear program. According to diplomatic sources, a series of resolutions and official declarations are expected to be signed by the end of the ministerial round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Dialogue amid diverging agendas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan\u2019s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar took to social media to reaffirm his country’s commitment to the organization\u2019s founding values. \u201cAt the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting today, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to multilateralism, mutual respect, and regional stability,\u201d Dar posted. \u201cThe Shanghai Spirit continues to guide us towards dialogue, mutual trust, and the pursuit of a more just and inclusive international order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s host, China, has continued to position the organization as a counterweight to Western-led alliances, using the platform to project regional influence and deepen political alignment with strategic partners such as Russia and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chinese<\/a>
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with foreign ministers and heads of standing bodies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on July 15, 2025. (Image Credit: Xinhua\/via State Council of the PRC)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Chinese President Xi Jinping also met with foreign ministers and heads of standing bodies of the SCO in Beijing. Xi said, \u201cChina has always prioritized the SCO in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is committed to making the organization more substantive and stronger, safeguarding regional security and stability, promoting the development and prosperity of member states and building a closer community with a shared future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Xi, who is expected to meet leaders of the member states during the summit later this year, has reiterated China’s vision for the SCO. Xi called on the bloc to prioritize \u201cmutual benefit\u201d and \u201ctrust\u201d as core principles, stating they must serve as the cornerstones of \u201ccooperation, equality, and consultation,\u201d while advocating respect for diverse civilizations and development models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Iran\u2019s nuclear program under the spotlight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the sidelines of the summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a closed-door bilateral meeting to address mounting international concerns over Iran\u2019s nuclear ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement following the talks, stating: \u201cThe parties continued their exchange of views on issues related to the regional and international agendas that are of mutual interest. Once again, emphasis was placed on the importance of resolving the crisis around Iran’s nuclear program exclusively through politico-diplomatic means in accordance with international law norms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83e\udd1d\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf7Lavrov holds talks with Iranian FM Araghchi at the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in China pic.twitter.com\/Jq5A5vMcUz<\/a><\/p>— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) July 15, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>