• Xi Jinping to host over 20 world leaders at the SCO summit from August 31 to September 1.
• Indian PM Narendra Modi's first visit to China in more than seven years aims to ease tensions.
• Focus on Global South solidarity amidst geopolitical challenges, especially from the US.
• Potential announcements on border measures and cooperation between India and China expected.

President Xi Jinping is poised to welcome more than 20 world leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, marking a significant display of Global South solidarity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly with the United States. This summit includes high-profile attendance by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting China for the first time in over seven years. The gathering underscores China's effort to present a united front against Western influence, particularly in the context of sanctions on Russia and tensions between nations, according to Reuters, Dawn, and The Jakarta Post.

This year's SCO summit is expected to be the largest since the organization's inception in 2001, with a stated aim of showcasing a new type of international relations that diverges from the traditionally US-led order. Experts like Eric Olander, from The China-Global South Project, highlight that this summit is an opportunity for Xi to illustrate the effectiveness of these nations working together and how US-led efforts to counteract this alliance have reportedly failed, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Amidst the backdrop of thawing relations with China, Modi's attendance is also significant, as it reflects attempts to mitigate past border tensions between India and China. The leaders aim to engage in discussions that might yield practical outcomes, such as easing trade tensions and troop withdrawals from border areas, despite India's complex relationship with both Pakistan and ongoing border disputes. Analysts maintain that these negotiations could set the stage for improved cooperation moving forward, aligning with Modi’s priorities of enhancing bilateral ties, according to The Jakarta Post and Dawn.

The SCO, which has expanded significantly in recent years, is perceived as a vital platform for many participating countries, although its effectiveness in producing substantial cooperation on key security issues remains contested. Some experts indicate that alongside immediate practical gains from discussions, the summit serves as a narrative-building opportunity to project unity against perceived Western hegemony and enhance the international standing of the Global South. As discussions unfold, expectations remain that the summit will leverage its convening power to create impactful dialogue among member states, according to Reuters, Dawn, and The Jakarta Post.