Qingdao, a coastal metropolis in northern China, is home to Qingdao Port, which ranks fourth globally. Today, the city plays a pivotal role in connecting the “golden waterway” of trade under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). With intelligent terminals, digital upgrades, and a strong logistics network, Qingdao has become a hub that bridges Asia, Europe, and beyond.
A Port of Global Reach
Qingdao Port is not just a symbol of China’s maritime strength but a gateway to the world for SCO member states. “We call it the Eurasian Connection,” said Li Fengli, General Manager of Shandong Port Group. “From Qingdao all the way west to Kazakhstan, then to the Caspian Sea ports of Aktau and Kuryk, across to Baku in Azerbaijan, and further by rail to the Black Sea – this is a very important multimodal route.”
As ports handle 90 percent of global cargo trade, Qingdao’s transformation from a traditional port city into a hub of global resource allocation stands out. Through independent R&D and breakthroughs in automation, the port has provided a “Chinese solution” to global port development. Today, it operates the world’s largest pulp import terminal, with automated cranes, unmanned forklifts, and smart guided vehicles setting new standards in efficiency.
SCODA and Local Cooperation
At the western end of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge lies the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA), an outcome of the 2018 SCO Qingdao Summit. Logos and signs across the city highlight its deepening role in SCO economic cooperation.
The annual SCO International Investment and Trade Expo has become the largest and most institutionalized exhibition under the SCO framework, attracting participants from more than 40 countries. The most recent edition brought together over 2,700 professional buyers, including more than 300 from overseas. The platform integrates trade, customs clearance, logistics, and finance, offering comprehensive services for SCO businesses.
For Afghan trader Ataullah Jan Aminzai, Qingdao was the perfect starting point: “People here like handmade Afghan carpets and products from nature. We chose Qingdao to start our business and expand into other cities of China.” Azerbaijan’s trade advisor Natig Khalilov emphasized the importance of such platforms: “China is a big country and different provinces have different tastes. Our trade houses not only introduce products but also showcase Azerbaijan’s investment potential, tourism resources, and culture.”
Smart Manufacturing and Haier’s Global Vision
Qingdao is also a powerhouse of smart manufacturing. Haier Group has integrated localization with digitalization, building production networks across SCO countries and beyond. “In Central Asia, for example Kazakhstan, we established a trading company and developed products tailored to local needs,” said Zhang Qingfu, Vice President of Haier Smart Home Overseas. “We launched a refrigerator that can keep beef fresh for 10 days, and it has gained an excellent reputation.”
Haier’s intelligent production lines produce one million units annually, serving not only China but also Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and European markets. By setting up factories in Pakistan and Egypt, Haier has created over 10,000 local jobs, achieving a shift from “Made in China” to “Made Together.”
A Comprehensive Logistics Network
Qingdao’s role extends beyond its factories and port terminals. Its rail and sea links make it a critical part of the China-Europe freight train network. In December 2022, the Jiaozhou Central Terminal launched its first Middle Corridor freight train. By 2023, the terminal handled over 350,000 TEUs, and in 2024, more than 1,000 freight train trips connected Qingdao to 54 cities in 23 countries, including SCO members. This created a vast network linking Japan and Korea to the east, Eurasia to the west, Russia and Mongolia to the north, and ASEAN countries to the south.
People, Culture, and Shared Dreams
Qingdao is not only about trade but also about people. Designated as the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital (2024–2025), the city combines history with modern vitality. Thousands of companies from over 40 countries have settled here, drawn by its openness and support policies.
Stories like that of Said Bobur, who left Uzbekistan to study in Qingdao and has now spent 11 years living and working here, highlight this spirit. “The first semester became two, then five years, and now over a decade,” he recalls. Said now works at the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Comprehensive Service Platform, which has already registered more than 22,000 enterprises since its launch in 2022. “I love my job,” he says. “Because I love to be useful for society.”
Qingdao’s story is one of connectivity – a hub that links continents, a bridge between civilizations, and above all, a common home where dreams converge. For SCO member countries, Qingdao is not just a city. It is a gateway to the world.
