The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 2025 summit is being held in the city of Tianjin, China. Many members including PM Modi, Russian President Putin, host President Xi Jinping are attending the summit as well as some special invited countries. Usually such special events are held in the capitals of the country, but when China chose Tianjin, the third largest city of the country, suddenly this seaside city came into the discussion.The question is why Tianjin instead of the capital Beijing?
The SCO was established in 2001, today is a major platform of eight permanent member countries and several observers of China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Central Asia. In such a situation, its venue will not only be an indicator of China’s priorities, diplomatic messages and development policy.
1- Why the city of Tianjin except Beijing?
The question arises that when Beijing is a major site of China’s political capital, diplomatic center and international diplomacy, why did an important multilateral meeting like SCO not be held there? Some of the main reasons behind this are being counted like this.
2- Other cities are also ready for hosting
Beijing is over-exposure. Almost all major international conferences, Olympics 2008, Belt and Road Forum, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Summit etc. have been held here. China now wants to indicate that its other metropolitan units are also capable of hosting global events.
3-Beizing-Tianjin-Hebei try to make power center
One of the priorities of President Xi Jinping is to develop Jing-Jin-G Regional Integration i.e. political capital Beijing, sea industrial hub Tianjin and strong industrial base Hebei like a common global power center. The decision to get Tianjin to get the SCO Summit can be considered part of this scheme, so that it can be further raised on the global map.
4-Security and Infrastructure
Beijing is already a very crowded city. Multi-country events like SCOs where many heads of state come, they need strict security, high level logistics and fresh infrastructure. Tianjin meets these requirements due to its modern expo centers, new hotels and streamlined marine-hostile contacts.
5- North China’s sea door
Tianjin has its own special significance of a population of about 1.5 crore and the third largest city in the country. This city, situated on the beach, is neatly decorated by China. Tianjin is the largest coastal city in Northern China and is just 120 km from Beijing. This is called the sea gate of North China. The Tianjin Port here is one of the world’s busiest ports, which handles about 50% of foreign trade activity in the northern part of China.
6-Multinational Hub
By the year 2023, Tianjin’s GDP had reached above 1.6 trillion yuan. The city has become a multinational hub of high technology, aerospace, artificial intelligence and new energy vehicles. Many industrial cooperation projects related to Europe and Asia are active here. This will give SCO members a chance to look at business and industrial opportunities directly.
7- Diplomatic laboratory
China has often been presenting Tianjin as a pilot zone for opening-up. Its Binhai New Area is a special center for foreign investment and research. It also brands the openness of China’s new era.
8-cultural identity
Tianjin has its own rich cultural tradition. This is a unique confluence of European architecture, Tianjin Eye (Ferris Wheel), and Chinese modernity. Such cultural elements introduce SCO representatives to another form of China which is different from Beijing.
9- Development model performance
When a host country conducts a summit of a multi-country institution like SCO, its place is not just a logistic issue, but a political message. SCO is mainly the organization of China, Russia and Central Asian countries. They are all geographically located in the North Asia region. The geographical place of Tianjin shows it the entrance to the north.
China wants to tell that its model of openness and modernization is not limited to the capital only. Second-tier like Tianjin but strategic cities can also play global diplomacy with partners from SCO countries.
10- Cooperation for business and logistics network
During the SCO Summit, Tianjin Port, Free Trade Zone and Binhai Area can be displayed for international partnership. This belt and road is deeply connected to Initiative (BRI) and shows the SCO direct benefits.
What does China’s official statement say?
According to media reports, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the State Council, Tianjin is an important modern city of a country. It is not only the Economic and Technical Center in Northern China, but it is also the leader of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Regional Cooperation Development. This is an ideal city to show shared development and mutual gains.
A spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs said that this conference will increase the identity of Tianjin internationally. This region will become a new platform for engagement between China and SCO countries. In this way, this selection is not only a question of convenience, but also a symbol of China’s regional development approach and future diplomatic strategy.
China’s triple strategy
Conducting a summit in Tianjin shows China’s triple strategy.
Diplomatic diversity: Bringing other cities other than Beijing.
Economic branding: To introduce SCO partners to the marine-industrial version of the Chinese development model.
National integration: To present the Jing-Jin-G scheme as a message on the international stage.
It can be said that choosing Tianjin for the SCO Summit is a more strategic selection than China’s logistic facility. This country wants to tell that its diplomacy is not limited to the capital only, but other areas of China are also ready to play equal global role.
The geography, economics, logistic system and cultural diversity of Tianjin make it ideal for organizing SCO. Through this, China is sending double messages. On the one hand, the strategy of internal balance and regional development and on the other side shows that China can present a detailed canvas of opportunities not only in the political capital, but in its entire land.
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