The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area is located in Jiaozhou, Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In recent years, East China's Shandong province has actively leveraged its geographical and transportation advantages to connect domestic and international markets. It has also actively participated in and integrated itself into the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthened cooperation with the five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The collaboration in trade and investment between Shandong and Central Asian countries has been deepened as well. Here are four examples that illustrate the growing cooperation between Shandong and the five Central Asian countries.

Uzbek Commodity Exchange opens branch in SCODA

At the end of 2021, the Uzbek Commodity Exchange's branch in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, also known as SCODA, was established. One of the world's four major commodity exchanges, the exchange's main business includes exporting commodities such as cotton, non-ferrous metals, and fertilizers, as well as importing building materials, textiles, machinery and electronics, household appliances, and food products needed by Central Asian countries.

"We will further collaborate with cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Urumqi, and leverage the advantages of the platform and the policies, industries, and logistics in the zone," said Xiong Xuehua, the business manager of Qingdao Asia-Europe Trade Services Co, the operator of the Uzbek Commodity Exchange's branch in Qingdao.

"We are aiming to create a cross-border trading platform that integrates functions such as trade of import and export products, technology transfer and services, product information release and display, warehousing and logistics, and enterprise training."

Thanks to the platform, Qingdao Asia-Europe Trade Service Co completed more than 13 million yuan ($1.8 million) in transactions through both enterprise commission services and direct imports in the first four months of this year.

Containers are unloaded at Qingdao Port in Shandong province in March. [Photo by Yu Fangping/For China Daily]

Shouguang greenhouses built in Uzbekistan

Since 2017, Shouguang LisenTe Agricultural Technology Co, a Shouguang-based company, has been constructing multi-span film greenhouses in Uzbekistan. To date, the company has built over one million square meters of greenhouses that have an annual vegetable output of approximately 100 tons per hectare in China.

These greenhouses have been constructed according to the requirements of local agricultural enterprises and farmers.

Products from revolutionary base access the Central Asian market

Due to the matching of supply and demand conditions and the support of various infrastructure facilities such as China-Europe trains, overseas warehouses, and integrated foreign trade service platforms, a large number of products from Lanshan district of Linyi city, a revolutionary base, are entering the Central Asian market.

The products include items such as porcelain, tableware, basins and toys.

Dongying enterprises provide maintenance for oil and gas equipment

Kerui Petroleum & Gas, a company based in Dongying city, has been widely involved in its operations in countries and regions such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. To improve efficiency, the company has established oil and gas equipment service centers and spare parts warehouses in major oil and gas operating areas in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Through an improved marketing and service network, resource sharing and interconnection have been achieved.