SCO economic cooperation conference opens in Shandong

China

SCO economic cooperation conference opens in Shandong

2025-07-18 23:19 Last Updated At：07-19 15:57

The Conference on China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Local Economic and Trade Cooperation opened on Friday in Qingdao, a city in east China's Shandong Province, aiming to explore economic and trade cooperation opportunities among member states.

At the opening ceremony, the Qingdao Initiative of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was released, proposing institutional and mechanism innovations in six key areas, including the joint development of international logistics corridors, green and smart industrial and supply chains, and the upgrading of trade and investment quality.

Participants expressed their hopes that the initiative, along with the SCO platform, will inject new momentum into global economic cooperation.

"We can leverage the SCO platform to help our enterprises grow rapidly, find more partners, and better access international markets," said Abilov Feruz Ne'matullayevich, first deputy governor of Uzbekistan's Samarkand Region.

Meanwhile, the 2025 SCO International Investment and Trade Expo, themed "Sharing new opportunities, shaping new development", was launched alongside the conference. More than 400 enterprises from nearly 40 countries and regions are taking part.

"In the future, we will elevate the SCO Expo to a higher standard and organize specialized exhibitions by sector. Using the expo as a platform, we will continue to unleash the potential of SCO cooperation and provide fresh impetus for high-quality economic growth of the region," said Sun Jing, director of Industry Development Division III at the Administrative Committee of the SCO Demonstration Area, an international trade hub based in Qingdao that aims to foster cooperation among SCO member states.

"We attach great importance to the development of the SCO Demonstration Zone. We are actively promoting cooperation with SCO countries in areas such as transportation and logistics, two-way investment, digital economy, and equipment manufacturing, so as to build greater cohesion and appeal within the SCO framework," said Wang Peng, director of the Coordination Office for SCO Services at the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce.

Iran swears to counterattack if attacked

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.

At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.

Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.

The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.

Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.

Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.

Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.