Photo: Shanghai Cooperation Organization

A high-level business forum aimed at strengthening trade and economic ties between China and member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened on March 30 in Qingdao. The event, held within the China–SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone, brought together approximately 400 participants, including senior officials, regional representatives, and business leaders from across SCO countries, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Designed as a platform for advancing multi-tiered cooperation, the meeting facilitated direct engagement between provincial authorities in Shandong and foreign delegations. The agenda combined official discussions with a dedicated procurement session, enabling Chinese and international enterprises to explore concrete partnership opportunities.

Deliberations centered on expanding import channels, reinforcing industrial and supply chain resilience, and enhancing localized economic collaboration under the SCO framework. Participants highlighted the strong complementarity between Shandong Province and SCO economies, emphasizing untapped potential for mutually beneficial cooperation. Broad consensus emerged on leveraging the forum to diversify engagement areas and elevate the quality of trade relations.

Several policy-oriented documents were unveiled during the event to guide future cooperation. Among them were a framework outlining economic collaboration pathways for regional administrations within SCO countries, a 2026 import demand catalogue for Shandong, and a curated list of recommended enterprises to support bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Complementary measures introduced by the Demonstration Zone included a catalog of priority import goods under the “Export to China: SCO Selection” initiative, alongside targeted policies aimed at improving the business environment and facilitating trade flows.

In parallel with the main forum, a series of side events—including business matchmaking sessions and a joint product selection conference under the Silk Road e-commerce initiative—provided additional layers of interaction. These activities contributed to building an integrated, high-efficiency cooperation ecosystem, amplifying the overall impact of the gathering.

The establishment of the China–SCO Demonstration Zone in Qingdao traces back to its endorsement by Xi Jinpingduring the 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in June 2018. Since then, the zone has evolved into a strategically significant platform aligned with the broader objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at fostering international economic collaboration.

Benefiting from its strategic coastal location and advanced multimodal transport infrastructure—encompassing maritime, rail, air, and road networks—the zone is well-positioned to support large-scale Eurasian connectivity projects. Its development continues to expand opportunities in logistics, trade, investment, business mobility, and cultural exchange, reinforcing Qingdao’s role as a key gateway for regional integration.

References:

https://rus.sectsco.org/20260331/2227307.html

http://russian.news.cn/20260401/1b28b815138843efad1e50ebb30dc003/c.html