On the morning of July 18, the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference, hosted by Shandong Provincial People's Government and jointly organized by the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce and the Qingdao Municipal People's Government, opened at Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center.

The conference, themed on "Pursuing Regional Cooperation, Joining Hands for Innovative Development", attracted nearly 300 Chinese and foreign guests to discuss SCO opportunities, and deliberate on cooperation plans. It further established an important platform for Shandong's local economic and trade cooperation and exchanges with SCO countries, injecting a more robust "SCO force" into promoting economic globalization and building an open world economy.

Since 2019, the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCO Demonstration Area) has continuously strengthened exchanges and cooperation with SCO member states at the local level. It is fully committed to building four centers: international logistics, modern trade, two-way investment cooperation, and business, tourism, culture exchange development, and is also progressing on building China-SCO Institute for Economic and Trade.

The conference leverages the platform advantages of the SCO Demonstration Area to strengthen exchanges with local governments and enterprises in SCO member states, and deepen the connection and cooperation of industrial and supply chains with SCO member states. Participants from all over the world gathered to share experience in local economic and trade cooperation and discussed innovative directions for improving the quality and increasing the volume of two-way trade and investment.

The Qingdao Initiative of China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was released at the meeting, advocating for strengthening local economic and trade cooperation within the SCO framework. It emphasizes key areas, establishes platforms and carriers, innovates cooperation models, and enhances the level of cooperation, thereby adding impetus and contributing to the high-quality development of regional economic cooperation within members of the SCO.