Foreign Minister Sugiono was in China’s Tianjin municipality on Monday, September 1, 2025, representing President Prabowo Subianto at the 25th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Speking at the SCO Plus Meeting, Sugiono delivered President Prabowo’s statement emphasizing peace, solidarity, and respect for international law as essential foundations for sustainable development.

“Indonesia’s presence at this forum reflects our commitment to multilateralism, the principle of non-alignment, and the spirit of cooperation to strengthen the collective voice of the Global South,” Sugiono said as quoted in a statement on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

He drew parallels between the “Shanghai Spirit” – built on mutual trust, equality, shared benefits, and respect for diversity – and the “Bandung Spirit” that inspired nations to achieve independence and justice.

“If in the past nations struggled against colonialism and for justice, today we work together to ensure development remains open, inclusive, and accessible to all. The Shanghai Spirit and the Bandung Spirit are increasingly relevant in a world full of rivalry,” he said.

Sugiono also welcomed China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), calling it a useful instrument to foster shared prosperity.

“To achieve development, we must uphold the principles embedded in GGI, especially respect for international law. The situation in Gaza shows how sovereignty, international law, and humanitarian values are often disregarded.

Indonesia stresses the need to uphold these values,” he said.

On the sidelines of the summit, Sugiono met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and conveyed a personal letter from President Prabowo to President Xi Jinping.

“President Prabowo sends warm greetings and reaffirms his commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with China. China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner and a key investor. This relationship must be nurtured on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit,” Sugiono said.

The SCO, initially founded in 1996 as the Shanghai Five comprising Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, has since expanded into a major regional forum. This year, Indonesia participated in the SCO Plus Meeting as Guest of the Chair, alongside Laos, Malaysia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. Indonesia is not an SCO member, observer, or dialogue partner.