Over more than six years since the SCO Demonstration Area (SCODA) was launched, a total of ten platforms such as the SCO Economic and Trade Comprehensive Service Platform and the Qingdao International Energy Trading Center have been set up, ten national level pilot programs including the SCO Research and Evaluation Base of Technical Trade Measures have been secured, and a cumulative total of 100 achievements in institutional innovation have been rolled out. With these moves, Qingdao has contributed its part to building a community with a shared future for SCO member states. Imports and exports between Qingdao and SCO member states in 2023 tripled compared with 2018 to RMB120 bln, with an average annual growth rate of 27%.

Tasked with the significant responsibility by the central government to build the SCODA in 2018, Qingdao has emerged as a national “business club” to engage with friends from all SCO member states as well as an important window to show China’s achievements in opening-up. A succession of more than SCO-related international events have been held in Qingdao including the Second Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference, the SCO Industrial and Supply Chains Forum, the SCO Forum on People-to-people Friendship and the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Furthermore, Qingdao has been charged with significant SCO initiatives including the construction of China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade and the 2024-2025 Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO.

The SCODA and Qingdao, where it is located, have represented China time and again on the international arena. They are on a faster track to demonstrate SCO elements in a concentrated way, gather economic and trade resources and host important events, and stay committed to play their role in building the new international Belt and Road cooperation platform in an all-out effort to help press ahead with higher-level opening-up.