The historic port city in northern China -- Tianjin, which is just announced to be the host city for the next Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit scheduled for this autumn -- is well-positioned to showcase its unique blend of history, economic power and forward-looking vision.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced on Friday that China will host a SCO summit this autumn in Tianjin, gathering leaders in the city to reflect on the SCO's accomplishments, plan the future, and build consensus for cooperation. As the country holding the rotating presidency of SCO, China is putting together more than 100 events in political, security, economic, and people-to-people fields this year under the theme of "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move."
With a documented history dating back to 1404, Tianjin was initially established as a strategic military post. The city has grown into a vital economic center and a gateway for international cooperation in the last few hundred years.
Today, Tianjin is a key node in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), linking many major economic corridors in the world. The Tianjin Port, the largest man-made deep-water port in China and one of the Top Ten ports globally, connects to over 800 other ports in more than 200 countries and regions. It handles a significant volume of global trade, with one out of every 40 containers worldwide originating from its facilities. Notably, Chilean cherries arrive at the port in the morning and clear customs in just two hours, making it possible for them to reach consumers by afternoon.
Furthermore, the city is known as the world's largest parallel import hub for automobiles, accounting for 80 percent of China's total annual parallel imports, with over 120,000 vehicles entering the country through it each year.
Tianjin is also advancing its status as an international consumption center, in line with China's globalization strategy. Its Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the first of its kind in northern China, facilitates smooth global trade and investment. Over the years, Tianjin has established sister-city relationships with 103 other cities and regions across 54 countries on five continents, creating a robust network for economic and cultural exchange.
Further extending its global reach, Tianjin has built 24 Luban Workshops in 23 other countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. These workshops, named after the ancient Chinese master craftsman Lu Ban, serve as platforms for vocational education and technical training, promoting skills transfer and strengthening international ties through education and innovation.
Beyond trade, Tianjin is a beacon of innovation and technological advancement. It is the birthplace of "Tianhe-1," China's first petascale supercomputer, and serves as a key manufacturing hub for China's iconic Long March rockets, which are central to China's space exploration efforts.
The city regularly hosts high-profile events such as the World Intelligence Congress and the Summer Davos Forum, cementing its reputation as a leader in smart technologies and innovation.
The SCO is the first international organization with China as a founding member state and named after a Chinese city.
China's historic port city Tianjin to hold next SCO summit
