2026 SCO Digital Economy Forum opens in China's Xinjiang

China

2026 SCO Digital Economy Forum opens in China's Xinjiang

2026-09-15 15:22 Last Updated At：15:37

The opening ceremony of the 2026 SCO Digital Economy Forum was held Tuesday in Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The ongoing forum, scheduled from Monday to Wednesday, has brought together some 500 participants, including government officials, think tank experts, business leaders, academics and industry association representatives from SCO member states. Among them, more than 200 are international delegates.

Themed "Promoting SCO Data Connectivity, Shaping the Future with AI", the event aims to explore new avenues for practical cooperation in the digital economy, promote the exchange and alignment of digital economy policies and plans, continue to deepen mutual trust regarding data, advance the application of data and artificial intelligence across various sectors, and promote deeper, higher-quality regional cooperation.

The forum includes a ministerial-level closed-door meeting, an opening ceremony and plenary session, four thematic sub-forums, and a series of side events.

During the ministerial session, participants will focus on strengthening intergovernmental dialogue and practical cooperation, and are expected to draw up a priority cooperation agenda for the SCO digital economy (2026-2027) to guide joint efforts in the coming years.

The four thematic forums cover digital connectivity, digital trade and corridor economy, digital-intelligent industry applications, as well as digital governance and capacity building.

To facilitate tangible outcomes, the forum also features an interactive exhibition, business matchmaking sessions, and field visits to local projects and enterprises.

Digital economy cooperation has become a key priority on the SCO agenda in recent years. At the SCO Tianjin Summit in September 2025, heads of member states adopted a statement on strengthening digital economic development, committing to deeper collaboration in formulating international rules and standards for data security, advancing digital infrastructure development, and improving the delivery of public services.

Fighting between Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen escalates

Yemen's west coast has seen a sharp escalation in fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government troops, with hundreds of casualties reported and military experts warning of a potential war of attrition near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait.

The clashes are concentrated along the Red Sea coast toward Bab al-Mandab, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and a key shipping route between Asia and Europe.

The Saudi-backed National Resistance Forces, which support the Yemeni government, say they lost around 500 fighters and that nearly 1,500 others were wounded in fighting between August 9 and September 10.

The commander of the National Resistance Forces has announced the formation of the Tihama Resistance Force as an independent unit under the Joint Operations Command of the Saudi-led coalition. He said its mission is to retake coastal areas lost by forces opposing the Houthis.

Military experts say the restructuring of forces could pave the way for a new phase of fighting along the western coast, with the area potentially becoming a prolonged war of attrition.

"I believe that the remaining battles inside Yemen, no matter how much Saudi Arabia mobilizes, supports, or deploys forces that it considers support for the Yemeni government, are, from my military assessment, fronts that are not influential nor effective. Yet, clashes may continue there, and there may be a war of attrition," said Abdulghani Al-Zubaidi, a military analyst in Sanaa.

On the ground, fighting was reported in Dhubab, near Bab al-Mandab, between government forces and the Houthis. The Houthis said Saudi aircraft carried out dozens of airstrikes in several provinces. Government sources said five of those strikes targeted the Bab al-Mandab area alone.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni government says it has told UN envoy Hans Grundberg that it remains ready for peace and stressed that navigation through Bab al-Mandab is safe. The UN says it is continuing efforts to reduce tensions and bring the parties back to the political process.