Tianjin: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in China on Sunday to attend the 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a guest of honor. Erdogan was welcomed with a reception at Binhai International Airport by Chinese Minister Lei Haichao, Trkiye's Ambassador to Beijing Selcuk Unal, and embassy staff.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan is accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, along with other ministers and officials. During his visit to Tianjin, Erdogan is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday. He is also set to address the summit session on Monday in an expanded format and engage in discussions with President Xi Jinping and other world leaders.
The summit takes place amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Gaza, the Ukraine crisis, and international trade disputes. Xi Jinping, serving as the rotating chair, will lead China's fifth annual hosting of the SCO. Leaders from over 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will be in attendance. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev are also expected to participate in the two-day gathering.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has expanded significantly since its inception as the "Shanghai Five" mechanism, originally comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, with Uzbekistan later joining as a member. Now encompassing 10 member states, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners across Asia, Europe, and Africa, the organization represents approximately 24% of the global land area and 42% of the world's population. The member states account for roughly one-quarter of global GDP, with trade among them increasing nearly 100-fold over the past two decades.
Trkiye participates as one of the dialogue partners of the organization, underscoring its strategic importance in fostering regional cooperation and addressing global challenges.