QINGDAO, July 18: The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was inaugurated at the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center on Friday.
The event was hosted by the People’s Government of Shandong Province and co-organized by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province and the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government.
Themed “Planning regional cooperation together and promoting innovative development hand in hand”, the Conference has invited nearly 300 Chinese and foreign guests to discuss SCO opportunities and jointly chart the course for cooperation.
It has further established an important platform for economic and trade exchanges between Shandong and SCO member states, injecting stronger “SCO strength” into promoting economic globalization and building an open economy.
Since 2019, the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) has continuously strengthened exchanges and cooperation between local governments and SCO member states. It has been fully committed to building four major centers in international logistics, modern trade, two-way investment cooperation, as well as business, tourism, and cultural exchanges, while actively advancing the construction of the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade.
Today, the SCODA is increasingly becoming a gateway to the Asia-Pacific market and a hub for economic and trade cooperation for SCO member states, with its platform effect becoming more prominent.
Those who share the same aspirations are not deterred by mountains and seas. Leveraging the platform advantages of the SCODA, the Conference has strengthened exchanges with local governments and enterprises of SCO member states and deepened their coordination and cooperation in the industrial chain and supply chain.
Guests from all corners of the world gathered together to share experiences in local economic and trade cooperation and discussed innovative directions for enhancing the quality and scale of two-way trade and investment. By deepening multilateral and bilateral economic and trade exchanges among local provinces, states, and cities of various member states, the Conference has been committed to achieving a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. It has provided a high-level cooperation platform for all parties, effectively promoting precise alignment, in-depth discussions, and practical cooperation in key areas such as economy and trade, investment, mineral resources, new energy, transportation and logistics, equipment manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation, agricultural technology, e-commerce, financial services, and international contracting projects. This effort will better expand new markets in SCO member states and along the Belt and Road Initiative, shaping new advantages for Shandong’s open development and building a new opening-up highland in the new era.
Where consensus is forged like precious stone, wisdom charts the course for a soaring future. At the conference, the Qingdao Initiative of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was released. It has advocated strengthening local economic and trade cooperation among SCO member states, focusing on key areas, building platform carriers, innovating cooperation models, and enhancing the level of collaboration, aiming to inject new momentum and make contributions to the high-quality development of regional economic cooperation within the SCO framework. This initiative has outlined a clear path for the high-quality development of regional economic cooperation under the SCO framework, contributing profound “SCO wisdom” to building an open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial regional economy. The opening ceremony also featured a thematic promotion event, along with in-depth dialogue salons focusing on the topics of “Silk Road E-commerce and the Development of Modern Trade” and “Financial Empowerment of Economic and Trade Development in SCO Countries”, which provided innovative approaches and development directions for exploring digital trade and building a financial support system.
A grand event connects hearts; together, states step into a new era. The Conference has represented an important initiative by Shandong Province to build a new platform for local economic and trade cooperation under the SCO framework, marking a crucial step in solidifying, enhancing, imaging, and promoting the “SCO brand”. It is understood that during the conference, several events will also be held, including the SCO Qingdao Meeting for the Industrial and Supply Chains, the Belarus Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Conference, the SCO Industrial Park Alliance Meeting, the 2025 Shandong-Hong Kong-Macao Conference for Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation and Exchange, the SCO International Cooperation and Exchange Conference for Ocean Internet of Things Industry Development, the Qingdao Tour of SCO Business Forum Entrepreneurs, and the 4th SCO International Investment and Trade Expo.
These carefully designed activities will further elevate comprehensive, multi-level, and pragmatic local cooperation within the SCO framework to new heights, contributing to a new chapter of mutual progress, win-win cooperation, and shared prosperity among the local regions of SCO member states.
