Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President of CAPDR: “Multipolarity is Taking Shape. Lessons from the SCO Summit in Tianjin and the Military Parade in Beijing”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
Context and Introduction
The Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR) acknowledges the international developments that took place between August 31 and September 3, 2025, within the People’s Republic of China. During this period, two major events captured global attention:
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where strategic decisions with an impact on the global architecture were formulated.
- The military parade in Beijing, dedicated to the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, transformed into a display of military power and an explicit geopolitical message.
For CAPDR, these developments are not merely diplomatic or military events, but clear signals of an accelerating multipolar world, in which Asia, through China and India, becomes a central pillar of the new international order.
SCO Summit – Tianjin
The summit brought together the leaders of the largest economies and regional powers in Eurasia.
President Xi Jinping presented a vision focused on strengthening the SCO as a financial and energy instrument. He proposed:
- the creation of an SCO development bank, providing alternatives to Western-dominated institutions (IMF, World Bank);
- a regional energy platform to coordinate oil and gas flows across Eurasia;
- the allocation of USD 1.4 billion in credits to support member states.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, emphasized India’s role as a balancing factor. With a population of over 1.4 billion and a rapidly growing economy, India positions itself as a key actor between East and West. Modi advocated for:
- regional cooperation in infrastructure and technology,
- peaceful solutions to existing conflicts, including the one in Ukraine,
- strategic balance between the US, EU, Russia, and China.
The Russian President reiterated the importance of multipolarity and called for a reduction in dependence on the dollar, signaling Russia’s intent to reposition closer to Asia.
Implications for Our Region:
The decisions made in Tianjin outline a financial and energy bloc alternative to the Western one. Romania and the Moldova Region must carefully analyze these moves to avoid isolation and to identify pragmatic bridges to the new Eurasian economic flows.
Economic and Energy Cooperation
On the sidelines of the summit, a historic agreement was signed for the construction of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which will transport 50 billion m³/year of gas from Russia to China via Mongolia.
In addition to this project, over 20 bilateral agreements were concluded, including:
- cooperation in digital technology and artificial intelligence,
- expansion of exchanges in education and research,
- partnerships in agriculture and food security,
- joint initiatives in space exploration.
Moreover, a visa-free regime for Russian citizens entering China will be introduced starting September 15, 2025.
Implications for Our Region:
Europe is losing ground in the competition for Russian energy resources. Gas that once flowed to the West will now be redirected to Asia.
For Romania and Moldova, this translates into increased pressure to diversify energy sources, but also an opportunity to become a logistical hub for projects connecting the European Union with Eurasia.
Beijing Military Parade – Strategic Message
The parade on September 3 was the largest ever organized by China:
- over 12,000 troops,
- display of the most advanced military technologies: hypersonic missiles, stealth drones, modern submarines, DF-61 ICBMs, electronic warfare units, and the entire nuclear triad.
President Xi Jinping’s speech was the central highlight:
“The world stands at a crossroads: peace or war.”
“China’s rise is irreversible, and no one can stop it.”
The presence of Narendra Modi at the event reinforced India’s image as a dialogue partner in a tense world, capable of acting as a mediator between East and West.
Implications for Our Region:
China’s message of military strength and “irreversible rise” confirms that the global power balance is shifting. Romania and the Moldova Region will need to navigate carefully between NATO guarantees and the opportunities generated by Eurasian corridors.
Romanian Dimension
CAPDR notes with interest the participation of two former Romanian prime ministers – Adrian Năstase and Viorica Dăncilă – at the Beijing events.
In particular, we highlight the presence of Ms. Viorica Dăncilă, who was also one of the special guests at the Moldova Regional Economic Forum (#FERM2025) in Vatra Dornei.
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This dual involvement demonstrates the capacity of Romanian political leaders to maintain open channels of dialogue at the international level. For the Moldova Region, this represents an opportunity to build constructive partnerships in support of regional projects.
CAPDR Conclusions
The events in Tianjin and Beijing confirm the acceleration of the transition to a multipolar world, in which Asia becomes a central pole of power.
Romania and the Moldova Region must view these transformations not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity for positioning.
The choice is clear:
- either remain a passive geopolitical wall,
- or become an active bridge between the European Union and the new economic and diplomatic corridors of Eurasia.
CAPDR – Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development reaffirms its mission to analyze and interpret these global changes, putting them in the context of the development of the Moldova Region and the regional integration projects it coordinates.
