---
title: "Shanghai Five — Definition & Meaning | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Shanghai Five was a 1996–2001 alliance of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan for border dispute resolution and security cooperation."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/shanghai-five"
---

[New](https://modeldiplomat.com/)

#

Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Shanghai Five was a 1996–2001 grouping of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan formed to settle border disputes and build regional security cooperation.
- How did the Shanghai Five differ from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?
- Which treaties founded the Shanghai Five?
- What are the 'three evils' associated with the grouping?
- What is the 'Shanghai Spirit'?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Go beyond the definition

## Research Shanghai Five like a delegate

Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students.

## Timeline

1. 26 April 1996

   The Shanghai Five (Chinese: 上海五国) denotes the diplomatic mechanism inaugurated on , when the heads of state of the People's Republic of China, the Russian Fe…

2. 24 April 1997

   A second foundational instrument, the Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions, was concluded at the Moscow summit of .

3. 15 June 2001

   At the Dushanbe summit of July 2000, Uzbekistan participated as an observer, and on the five members plus Uzbekistan met in Shanghai and signed the declarat…

## Research it like a delegate

Research on modeldiplomat.com

## Ask a follow-up about Shanghai Five

Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers.

[Start research on Shanghai Five](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Shanghai%20Five%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources)

Example

In April 1996 the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions in Shanghai, founding the Shanghai Five.

Keep learning

## Go deeper than the definition

Lessons

[China In Global Groupings Sco Brics](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/china-foreign-policy-china-in-global-groupings-sco-brics)[Neighborhood Periphery Diplomacy](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/china-foreign-policy-neighborhood-periphery-diplomacy)[Plurilateral Groupings G7 G20 Brics Sco Quad Nam](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/exam-global-institutions-plurilateral-groupings-g7-g20-brics-sco-quad-nam)

Courses

[China Foreign Policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/china-foreign-policy)[Exam Global Institutions](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/exam-global-institutions)

[Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services)

## Take Shanghai Five beyond the glossary

Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.