Core Insights - The trade volume between China and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries has significantly increased, crossing the thresholds of 300 billion, 400 billion, and 500 billion USD in the past five years, establishing SCO as a "new engine" for China's foreign trade [1][3]. Trade Growth and Infrastructure - In the first seven months of this year, the trade volume reached 293.18 billion USD, marking a historical high for the same period [3]. - The total import and export volume in 2024 is projected to reach 3.65 trillion CNY, which is 36 times higher than at the inception of the SCO [3]. - A robust cross-border logistics system, including rail, road, and air transport, has been established, enhancing connectivity between China and SCO member countries [3][5]. - The China-Europe Railway Express has completed its 110,000th trip, with a cumulative cargo value exceeding 450 billion USD, facilitating trade with many SCO member countries [3][5]. Trade Facilitation and E-commerce - Trade facilitation measures have improved, with customs clearance times at the Khorgos railway port reduced from 2-3 days to under 16 hours [5]. - The online economic cooperation platform for SCO has attracted 22,000 businesses, with declared amounts surpassing 250 billion CNY [5]. - The e-commerce market among SCO member countries is expected to exceed 3.2 trillion USD in 2024, accounting for over half of the global market [5]. Regional Cooperation and Economic Impact - China's role as the second-largest economy has positioned it as a core engine for trade growth within the SCO, aligning with the development needs of member countries [6][7]. - The SCO promotes open trade policies, including tariff reductions and expanded port access, addressing the needs of member countries facing high tariffs from the U.S. [6][7]. - The organization embodies a new multilateralism that emphasizes equality, mutual benefit, and shared cooperation, contrasting with traditional Western economic cooperation models [7].

Core Insights - The trade volume between China and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries has significantly increased, reaching historical highs and becoming a new engine for China's foreign trade growth [1][2][5] Trade Volume Growth - In the first seven months of this year, the trade volume between China and SCO member countries reached $293.18 billion, marking a historical high for the same period [2] - By 2024, the total import and export volume is projected to reach 3.65 trillion yuan, which is 36 times the volume at the inception of the SCO [2] Logistics and Connectivity - A robust cross-border logistics system, including rail, road, and air transport, has been established to facilitate trade between China and SCO member countries [2][3] - The China-Europe Railway Express has completed its 110,000th trip, with a cumulative cargo value exceeding $450 billion, enhancing connectivity [2] - The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail intermodal transport has reduced transportation time by approximately 5 days and costs by nearly 30% [2] Trade Facilitation and E-commerce - Trade facilitation measures have improved significantly, with customs clearance times at the Khorgos railway port reduced from 2-3 days to under 16 hours [4] - The SCO Economic and Trade Service Platform has attracted 22,000 businesses, facilitating seamless connections for trade [4] - The e-commerce market among SCO member countries is expected to exceed $3.2 trillion in 2024, accounting for over half of the global market [4] Regional Cooperation and Development - China's role as the second-largest economy has positioned it as a key driver of trade growth within the SCO, aligning with the development needs of member countries [5][6] - The SCO promotes open trade policies, including tariff reductions and expanded port access, addressing the needs of member countries facing high tariffs from the U.S. [6] - The organization emphasizes mutual trust, benefit, equality, and consultation, contrasting with the unequal structures often seen in Western economic cooperation [6]