The event will last until the 26th. It is reported that 450 participants, including government agencies, diplomatic missions, business groups, experts, scholars, and corporate representatives from SCO member countries, as well as more than 100 foreign guests, will gather to discuss economic and trade exchanges and cooperation among SCO member countries and accelerate the development of the demonstration zone.
In 2018, the 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO was successfully held in Qingdao, where it was decided to establish the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone. To expedite the construction of the demonstration zone, the Qingdao Municipal Government planned to hold the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum annually starting in 2019, along with the SCO International Investment and Trade Expo, with Jiaozhou designated as the permanent venue.
The theme of the inaugural China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum is "Jointly Building the SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Model," focusing on topics such as "Promoting Connectivity and Tapping New Driving Forces for SCO Cooperation" and "Facilitating Investment and Trade for New SCO Development." In-depth exchanges and discussions will be conducted on investment and trade liberalization and facilitation, regional financial center construction, cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, energy cooperation, and collaboration among key industrial parks.
Running concurrently with the forum is the SCO International Investment and Trade Expo with the theme "Promoting International Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and Facilitating Deep Development of SCO Member States." This expo will consist of five exhibition areas, including the SCO Demonstration Zone Planning and Achievement Exhibition Area, national/regional pavilions, a large enterprise exhibition area for cooperation between China and SCO countries, an economic and trade cooperation and characteristic industrial park exhibition area, and an exhibition area for small businesses from SCO countries. Exhibitors and buyers from 18 SCO member countries, as well as Northeast Asia, the European Union, ASEAN, and other countries, will participate in the expo.
During the forum, various activities will take place, such as the China Youth Science, Technology, and Invention 3D Printing Invitation Competition, the SCO Silk Road International Cuisine Festival, as well as project negotiations, signing ceremonies, and special promotions.
The demonstration zone of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation encompasses the entire Qingdao area, with one core area and multiple linked areas. The core area includes the 61.1 square kilometers Jiaozhou Core Area and the 2 square kilometers West Coast Core Area. The linked areas include the Qingdao Jiaodong Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, the Chengyang China-Russia High-Speed Rail Industry Park, and the Jimo Lugang International Trade Cooperation Park, among others. The demonstration zone also includes an overseas cooperative park for SCO member countries.
Since its establishment in 2018, the demonstration zone has seen three transformations, evolving from a national-level Jiaozhou Economic and Technological Development Zone to the Eurasian Economic and Trade Cooperation Industrial Park and finally to the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone. With its unique geographical advantages and the influence of the SCO, the demonstration zone has attracted a number of key cooperative projects and has played a significant role in promoting the development of the region.
The demonstration zone is committed to coordinating internal and external planning, setting up overseas economic and trade cooperation zones for SCO member countries. By 2022, the core area of the demonstration zone aims to achieve development goals that include doubling the annual import and export trade volume, cumulative two-way investment, foreign contracted project turnover, and two-way labor cooperation turnover with SCO member countries. To accomplish these goals, the demonstration zone will focus on building a green and intelligent park, creating a beautiful ecological environment, establishing an efficient transportation network, providing quality public services, and implementing open and transparent planning. It will also develop high-end and high-tech industries, improve fair and efficient supervision, create a convenient business environment, advance institutional and mechanistic reforms, and expand comprehensive opening up to foreign countries in line with the Belt and Road Initiative.
The demonstration zone has been actively building a favorable environment for investment and development. By 2019, it will complete the planning of functional areas such as bonded areas and smart logistics areas facing SCO member countries. It will establish six logistics platforms, including China National Machinery Industry Corporation's Belt and Road global cold chain service, and will apply for the establishment of Shandong Province's Qingdao Belt and Road comprehensive test zone. It will also expand logistics channels along the Eurasian Continental Bridge to connect with 11 key logistics cities and gradually extend logistics networks. In terms of cross-border transportation, the zone will operate the "Qilu" China-Europe train in a regular and bidirectional manner, promoting international cold chain container transportation on China-Europe freight trains. Moreover, it will establish international trade centers and international talent communities to promote the development of international trade, attract international trade enterprises, universities, and talents, and become a gathering place for international trade.
Various projects with "SCO elements" have also settled in the demonstration zone, including projects related to SCO industries, platforms, and trade. For instance, the SCO-themed town, the China-Russia-Ukraine Qingdao International Innovation and Technology Park, and other projects with a total investment of 85.3 billion yuan have been established, contributing to Qingdao's status as a vital gateway to the Asia-Pacific market for SCO countries.
With the influence of the SCO, the reputation of enterprises in the demonstration zone has grown, attracting more clients. In 2018, the number of enterprises in the demonstration zone increased from 300 to 500, and the number of logistics platforms with nationwide routes expanded from over 200 to over 300, with platform revenue reaching a historic high of 8 billion yuan, an increase of 3 billion yuan compared to 2017.
To ensure that industries are vibrant and the park is attractive, the demonstration zone provides comprehensive and high-quality services, including finance, law, and a favorable soft environment. It established a foreign-related trial circuit court to handle first-instance foreign-related civil and commercial cases, providing judicial services and guarantees tailored to the needs of the demonstration zone.
In addition, the demonstration zone has set up the SCO Demonstration Zone Financial Service Center and signed cooperation agreements with 10 institutions, including the China Development