Economic Watch: SCO economic and trade cooperation "goes to the next level"

　　China News Service, Beijing, September 16 (Reporter Li Xiaoyu) This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the SCO Charter and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation among member states, which is of great symbolic significance to the SCO.

As a comprehensive regional cooperation organization with the largest area and the largest population in the world, at a time when the world economy and trade are in the overall downturn, the economic and trade cooperation among the SCO countries has achieved remarkable results and has "taken to a higher level".

　　In 2021, the trade volume between China and other SCO member states will reach US$343.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 40% and 28 times that of the SCO when it was established in 2001.

This good development momentum has continued this year.

According to Chinese statistics, the trade volume between China and other SCO member states in the first eight months of this year reached 1.73 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 26%, more than double the overall growth rate of China's foreign trade.

Among them, the trade volume in August hit a monthly record high.

　　Liu Huaqin, director of the Eurasian Institute of the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce of China, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency that there are two reasons behind the remarkable growth of trade between China and other SCO member states in recent years: economic complementarity The export of Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries is mainly energy and mineral resources. At the same time, there is a large demand for the import of mechanical and electrical products, which is exactly in line with China's needs. The continuous increase in the number of China-Europe trains ensures a relatively stable and smooth supply chain.

In addition, the deepening and solid diplomatic relations between China and relevant countries have also laid a solid foundation for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between them.

　　In addition to the continuous expansion of trade scale, the economic and trade cooperation platform between the two sides has also become more abundant.

At present, the construction of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone is progressing steadily, and the construction of the four major centers of logistics, trade, investment, and cultural tourism has achieved positive results, and the SCO multimodal transport center has been established.

　　During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Central Asia, new positive news has been continuously released in the economic and trade cooperation between China and other SCO member states.

　　For example, the joint statement on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kazakhstan clearly stated that the two sides will promote the expansion of Kazakhstan’s non-resource commodity exports to China, deepen cooperation in “Silk Road e-commerce”, and expand investment cooperation in high-tech fields.

The joint statement between China and Uzbekistan also mentioned that further measures will be taken to increase the bilateral trade volume, increase the types of bilateral trade commodities, tap the broad potential of bilateral trade, deepen the "Silk Road E-commerce" cooperation, and explore new opportunities for trade and innovation cooperation between the two countries. growth point.

　　Analysts believe that under the current international situation, further strengthening economic and trade cooperation among member states is of great significance to China, the SCO itself, and the world economy.

　　Sun Zhuangzhi, director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, the international landscape has undergone complex changes, the game between major powers has been escalating, and security challenges have increased.

Central Asia is located in the hinterland of the Eurasian continent. It is the core area of ​​the SCO, and is also the first place and an important hub for the "Belt and Road" initiative, which is conducive to the SCO's better use of its own advantages in economic cooperation.

　　Sun Zhuangzhi said that economic cooperation will be very important for the SCO in the coming period.

It is necessary to eliminate obstacles and barriers in economic and trade exchanges through flexible and open multilateral cooperation, realize trade and investment facilitation as soon as possible, enhance the endogenous driving force of member states to carry out regional cooperation, and promote regional economic and trade cooperation to achieve greater results. The community provides an example.

　　Liu Huaqin also believes that considering the impact of the current epidemic and geopolitical tensions on emerging economies, it is both necessary and potential for China to further upgrade economic and trade cooperation with other SCO member states.

For example, the scope can be fully expanded, from the initial 6 member states to more member states, observer states and dialogue partners; the areas of cooperation can also be more abundant, digital economy, telemedicine, green energy, green agriculture and other fields can be used as Future cooperation growth point.

　　In Liu Huaqin's view, when the global economy is sluggish, the tendency of various countries to "clean their own door" or even "beggar-thy-neighbor" tends to intensify.

At this moment, China and other SCO member states can reach a consensus on strengthening economic and trade cooperation, which is of great significance in itself, in sharp contrast to unilateralism and protectionism.

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