SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov’s meeting with Chairman of the SCO Business Council National Branch from China Zhang Shaogang

On 18 December 2020, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov met with Zhang Shaogang, Head the National Branch of China of the SCO Business Council and Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

During the meeting, the officials discussed the development of trade and economic cooperation between the SCO countries, entrepreneurship activities, the implementation of joint infrastructure projects, and the interaction between the SCO business communities after the pandemic.

Mr Norov noted the important role of the Business Council as a platform to promote mutually beneficial multilateral projects as well as to organise forums and exhibitions, and expressed his hope for a quick recovery of the member countries' economies and broader horizons of the SCO business cooperation.

In the context of the results of the SCO summit held in November, the SCO Secretary-General stressed that it was necessary to further step up practical cooperation in such areas as industrial cooperation, e-commerce and food safety.

"The last summit and meeting of the SCO Heads of Government outlined new tasks in the economy. We plan to create new sectoral mechanisms in energy, manufacturing, poverty relief, startups and innovations," he said.

It was noted that the adopted 2021-2025 Action Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Development Strategy until 2025 is an important practical document and its consistent implementation will definitely give a broad, positive economic impetus.

"Encouraging industrial cooperation and creating favourable conditions for e-commerce and business development will help promote regional trade as well as the full implementation of the import and export potential of the SCO member states," Vladimir Norov stressed.

Zhang Shaogang thanked the Secretary-General for his efforts and support of the CCPIT activities.

The Chairman noted that the areas of cooperation outlined by the Secretary-General were promising and supported the importance of adding more practical content to the SCO activities.
Zhang Shaogang suggested using the potential of the Demonstration Zone for China-SCO regional trade and economic cooperation, which is under construction in Qingdao, as a pilot project aimed at promoting trade and economic cooperation.

The sides also discussed the agenda of joint events for next year, as well as those to mark the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.