President Muizzu Attends Welcome Banquet for SCO Summit Hosted by China’s First Couple

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit welcome banquet held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre last night.

He was welcomed to the event by President Xi Jinping of China and the nation’s First Lady, Peng Liyuan.

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More than 20 foreign heads of state and government, along with their spouses from SCO member states, observer states, dialogue partners, and guests of China as the current SCO President, attended the event. The banquet also hosted ten heads of international organisations, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

This marks Muizzu’s third visit to China since assuming office in November 2023. His first state visit took place in January 2024, during which 20 agreements, grants, and MoUs were signed across fields including disaster management, economy, public service media, human resources, and agriculture. He later visited Shandong Province in November 2024 to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

SCO Summit Aims to Build Consensus and Plan Development, Says President Xi

According to a statement released by the Chinese government, President Xi said while addressing the attendees of the banquet that the purpose of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is to build consensus amongst all parties and to draw up a blueprint for development.

He said that the SCO has remained committed to the “Shanghai Spirit” since its founding in 2001, strengthening solidarity and mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation, and taking an active role in international and regional affairs. He described the organisation as a growing force in promoting a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

President Xi said that amid accelerating global transformations and rising instability and uncertainty, the SCO bears greater responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as promoting development and prosperity for all countries. He added that the Summit is tasked with building consensus, igniting momentum for cooperation, and drawing up a blueprint for development. 

President Xi highlighted Tianjin as an open and inclusive metropolis that has historically served as a strategic guardian city for China’s capital. He said the city has pioneered China’s reform and opening up as a pilot zone and, through the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy, continues to play a key role in advancing Chinese modernisation. President Xi expressed confidence that Tianjin, as host of the Summit, would provide fresh impetus for the sustainable development of the SCO.

Established in 2001, the SCO is a regional organisation promoting political, economic, and security cooperation across Eurasia, providing member and partner countries with platforms to collaborate on shared challenges and strategic priorities.