SCO Secretary-General meets with the heads of the China Association of Trade in Services

On 5 November 2019, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov met in Shanghai with General Secretary of the China Association of Trade in Services Zhuon Jieyou and the heads of the Shanghai Transport University. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the China International Import Expo 2019.

Mr Norov told his audience about the SCO's activities in the field of trade and economic cooperation, transport connectivity, information and telecommunications ties, education, tourism and youth policy.

He also focused on the results of and documents adopted by the SCO Council of the Heads of Government at its meeting in Tashkent on 1-2 November 2019. Specifically, he noted the importance of the Regulations of the SCO Consortium of Economic Analytical Centres, which is due to define the main aims, objectives and purviews of the Consortium, this new consultative and expert mechanism. It will be employed to establish interaction between research institutions and economic analytical centres and to conduct analysis in the priority economic cooperation spheres within the SCO. He called on his Chinese colleagues to take an active part in the Consortium.

Referring to many economists, Mr Norov said that China, the Belt and Road initiator, was expanding imports and curtailing its active trade balance with B&R member-countries. China also maintained rapid growth rates in services trading, emerging as an important market for commodity exports from many countries. This global initiative is creating new opportunities for promoting cooperation between SCO countries determined on expanding transport and logistic services and facilitating the revival of the Great Silk Road that once upon a time passed through the countries in the region for thousands of years.

In this context, he suggested drafting a programme of cooperation between SCO member states in the field of multimode transport and logistics centres, which would help to develop the infrastructure of logistics centres that dock different types of transport, modernise the existing networks and facilities across the entire SCO space, and speed up the harmonisation of transport standards and phytosanitary rules.

He also pointed out that last year's SCO Summit held in Qingdao approved the Joint Appeal by the Heads of the SCO Member States to Young People and a programme

for its implementation. To implement these documents, the SCO Secretariat annually organises the SCO Model interactive game for secondary-school and university students. Many SCO universities have joined the game as well. To popularise the project, it has been suggested that the Shanghai University run the SCO Model game among its students as well.

Those taking part in the meeting discussed whether it was possible to organise joint themed events and roundtables involving SCO academics to exchange best practices in field of mutual interest.

The event was held in a warm and friendly manner.