Sept 17, Dushanbe — The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Economic
and Trade Ministers' Meeting convened; China was represented by Vice Minister
and Deputy International Trade Representative Ling Ji. The meeting prioritized
implementing the Bishkek summit consensus and planning next-stage regional
economic cooperation ahead of the annual SCO heads (premiers) council. China
pledged to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand intra-SCO
trade, deepen supply-chain collaboration, and improve infrastructure “hard
connectivity” and rules/standards “soft connectivity” to further liberalize and
facilitate trade and investment. Ministers adopted a joint declaration, approved
regulations creating a special working group on the creative economy, and signed
the meeting minutes.
