The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area hosts a symposium in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Sept 1. [Photo/WeChat account of SCODA]

The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, known as SCODA in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province held a symposium in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Sept 1.

Zhang Xinzhu, a member of the Communist Party of China Qingdao Municipal Committee and secretary of the Party Working Committee of the SCODA, Lyu Anqi, commercial counsellor of the Chinese Consulate General in Almaty, and Akerkin Erariyeva, acting president of the Almaty Entrepreneurial Chamber, attended the event.

Zhang said that the SCODA has become a comprehensive platform recognized by international organizations and aids local economic and trade cooperation between SCO member states and countries along the Belt and Road.

Zhang expressed hope that all parties will use the SCODA to enrich cooperation and share new opportunities for high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

Lyu noted in his speech that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, and that bilateral trade and economic relations between China and Kazakhstan have been steadily improving over the past decade. Qingdao, he added, has been playing an active and important role in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kazakhstan.

He also expressed hope that both sides will deepen mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation in fields like trade, investment, and logistics through the event.

During the meeting, representatives from the Almaty Entrepreneurial Chamber, the Kazakhstan Investment representative office in Almaty, the South Kazakhstan Branch of the Kazakhstan Railway Express, Qingdao Luhai Grain & Oil and other institutions and enterprises held in-depth exchanges.

In the first half of this year, Qingdao's imports and exports with SCO member states amounted to 63.1 billion yuan ($8.7 billion), a year-on-year increase of 36.1 percent, while trade with Kazakhstan increased by 40.9 percent.

The Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]