First Event of 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin Kicks Off, Focusing on Sustainable Development Industry Cooperation

Tianjin, April 10, 2025 – The first supporting event for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit opened in Tianjin, focusing on sustainable development and industrial cooperation. The event attracted nearly 400 representatives from governments and businesses across SCO member states.

This gathering is the inaugural side event leading up to the SCO summit scheduled to take place in Tianjin later this year. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last month that the summit will be hosted in the autumn of 2025.

The SCO sustainable development investment promotion initiative, guided by the <b>"Shanghai Spirit"</b>, aims to engage in a series of activities centered around the theme of the <b>SCO Year of Sustainable Development</b>, focusing on eight key areas of global development initiatives.

During the opening ceremony, <b>Ling Ji</b>, Vice Minister of Commerce of China, noted that this year marks the <b>"China Year"</b> for the SCO. He highlighted that the organization has completed its second decade with remarkable achievements and is entering a new phase of high-quality development characterized by greater unity, collaboration, vitality, and effectiveness.

Throughout the event, a total of <b>18 projects</b> will be signed, covering sectors such as <b>new energy</b>, <b>new materials</b>, and <b>infrastructure</b>, with a combined investment amounting to <b>4.795 billion yuan</b>, involving <b>8 countries</b>.

Since its establishment 24 years ago, the SCO has achieved significant results in regional economic cooperation under the guidance of the <b>"Shanghai Spirit."</b> In 2024, trade between China and SCO member states, observer countries, and dialogue partners reached a record <b>890 billion USD</b>, accounting for approximately <b>14.4%</b> of China's total foreign trade. By the end of 2024, China’s investment stock in SCO member states, observer countries, and dialogue partners exceeded <b>140 billion USD</b>, with new contract amounts in engineering projects surpassing <b>1 trillion USD</b> and total revenues exceeding <b>680 billion USD</b>.

Infrastructure projects like the <b>China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline</b> (ABC line) and the <b>China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Highway</b> have been completed and are operational. In 2024, the China-Europe Railway Express running through SCO countries recorded <b>19,000 trips</b>, a <b>10.7%</b> increase from the previous year, significantly enhancing connectivity and economic development in the region.

According to <b>Ashat Magauov</b>, Vice President of the National Oil and Gas Company of Kazakhstan, <b>cooperation in the oil refining sector</b> between Kazakhstan and China has yielded significant results and will continue to progress steadily. He expressed confidence that both sides will work together to achieve their established goals.

The conference also provided a platform to share sustainable development plans, opportunities, and cooperative projects among SCO nations and industries, attracting investment, technology, talent, and enterprises to participate in the sustainable development and transformation processes. By promoting investment cooperation projects in the sustainable development field, the initiative aims to practically advance investment collaborations among SCO countries in key areas such as energy, petrochemicals, and infrastructure.

Ling Ji remarked that China is willing to work with all parties to promote sustainable development of investment cooperation legal systems, enhance sustainable cooperation in regional production and supply chains, and firmly uphold the multilateral trading system.