Shandong and SCO discuss trade, investment and supply chain cooperation

Trade, investment and supply chain cooperation between Shandong province and Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states were in focus on Wednesday in Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong, as officials and experts highlighted the need to expand high-quality local economic and trade ties.

The China (Shandong)–SCO Industrial and Supply Chain Cooperation Promotion and Exchange Conference, held in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, focused on strengthening the stability of global industrial and supply chains, promoting high-quality growth in import and export trade, and advancing steady two-way investment cooperation.

Designed as a platform for resource matching, the event aimed to facilitate more pragmatic, locally driven economic and trade collaboration between Shandong and SCO member states.

More than 290 representatives attended the conference, including officials from commerce authorities, industrial parks, and leading enterprises from SCO member states such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside Chinese participants.

In a video address, T.R. Midhun, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, said that amid a rapidly evolving global landscape, building stable and mutually beneficial industrial and supply chain partnerships has become increasingly important.

"Shandong, with its solid industrial base and strategic location, is a strong partner in advancing local economic and trade cooperation," he said.

Wang Lei, director of the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, said the SCO Tianjin Summit underscored the importance of leveraging the organization's vast market and economic complementarities to enhance trade and investment facilitation, providing clear guidance for deeper cooperation.

She noted that Shandong's trade volume with SCO member states reached $62.17 billion in the first three quarters of this year, up 12.8 percent year-on-year, and reaffirmed the province's commitment to building a model platform for local-level cooperation.

Zhang Xinzhu, secretary of the SCODA's Party Working Committee, said the area has gradually developed into an influential hub for cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and major events among SCO countries.

"We will further improve infrastructure connectivity and industrial collaboration with SCO partners to ensure the smooth and stable operation of regional industrial and supply chains," Zhang said.

The event also featured parallel B2B matchmaking sessions in sectors, including petrochemicals, engineering equipment, and agricultural and food products, bringing together more than 180 Chinese and foreign enterprises for one-on-one business talks.