A roundtable seminar on digital trade between China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held at the Beijing National Convention Center on Sept 2 during the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).

The seminar kicks off via online and offline channels. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Commerce, the SCO Secretariat and the Management Committee of the China-SCO Demonstration Zone for Local Economic and Trade Cooperation in Qingdao.

The event, held via online and offline channels, was attended by government officials from China and SCO member states and hosted discussions related to the opportunities, paths and future priorities of cooperation in digital areas such as smart cities, digital agriculture, intelligent transportation, telemedicine and online education.

As an important part of the digital economy, digital trade is becoming a new engine of trade growth, a new highland of institutional innovation and a new aspect of international cooperation, said Li Fei, an official from the Ministry of Commerce.

In the past few years, the SCO member states have followed the trend of digital development and deepened regional economic cooperation in digital fields such as smart cities, telemedicine and smart manufacturing, and achieved positive results, Li added.

The Qingdao SCO zone serves as an important window for the opening-up of SCO countries and a better platform for international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, said Zhang Xinzhu, director of the zone's management committee.

Zhang said that the zone will continue to build a "dual circulation" strategic node through data connectivity, promote the interconnection of policies, rules, standards and facilities related to digital trade, and help build a "digital Silk Road" featuring extensive consultations, joint contributions and shared benefits.

Participants share insights into digital trade. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]