Build the international circle of friends to build the SCO Demonstration Zone

Qingdao has gained initiative in development by opening up

Our reporter Li Bo and Hou Linliang

AstraZeneca, the UK has invested additionally in Qingdao, Shandong for three consecutive years, and its new production base is expected to be put into production by the end of 2028; Germany's Anmai Aluminum Group, which has been deeply engaged in Qingdao for 27 years, has increased its capital for the fourth time and built a new calcined alumina factory... Multinational companies have proved with their actions that the world is optimistic about China and Qingdao.

In May 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during his inspection in Shandong: "Build a new highland for high-level opening up" and "we must strive to be the first in further comprehensively deepening reforms and promoting high-level opening up."

We will thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, and Qingdao will focus on implementing opening up on a larger scale, wider field and deeper level, win the initiative of economic development with the initiative of opening up to the outside world, and strive to open up a new world of reform and development.

Open up large logistics channels and expand the international circle of friends-

It only takes 17 days for the China-Europe freight train from Qingdao to reach the heart of Europe; it only takes 7 days for the truck to reach Moscow, Russia through the international road transport system... It only takes 7 days for the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" to bring more opportunities to Qingdao.

"Since this year, we have seized the opportunity to build the China-Europe Express (Jin and Qinghai) National Assembly Center, and innovatively launched the integrated operation model of warehouse, transportation and trade, and promoted the formation of a virtuous cycle of promoting trade with logistics and leading industries with trade." said Man Kun, assistant general manager of Shandong Expressway Qilu Eurasian Express Operation Co., Ltd.

In Qingdao, the open doors are getting bigger and bigger. Qingdao Port connects more than 700 ports in more than 180 countries and regions; Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport passenger routes can reach 128 domestic and foreign cities; China-Europe freight trains are regularly launched on 32 routes, connecting 54 cities in 23 countries; 223 regular routes and 42 maritime routes to SCO countries are opened...

Continue to broaden the major international logistics channels and actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern. Qingdao has greater development potential, stronger momentum and more vitality.

Expand institutional opening-up and cultivate open experimental fields—

"Nigeria's Cassia seeds have entered the 'white list'," said Song Chengyu, head of Shandong Yuguang International Trade Co., Ltd.

What is a "white list"? Qingdao Free Trade Zone promotes the reform of the "white list" system for commodities of medicine and food. Cassia seeds and other medicines and food products can only be declared for the purpose of medicines before, and the procedures are relatively complicated; after entering the "white list", customs declaration can be declared according to the actual purpose. "Now we are more flexible and confident in connecting with the international market," said Song Chengyu.

Through this reform, the institutional transaction costs of related enterprises have been reduced by 50%. At present, more than 60 upstream and downstream enterprises with the same origin of medicine and food have entered the Qingdao Free Trade Zone, forming a multi-industry chain covering the import of medicine and food and food goods, food processing, and cross-border trade.

Focusing on corporate needs, this year, the customs clearance reform of pharmaceutical and food commodities is upgraded again. For trade enterprises, restrictions such as "annual import trade volume of 10 million yuan" will be completely lifted, allowing enterprises to link with multiple food production and operation units, and more small and medium-sized enterprises will benefit directly.

Implement the "departure-departure confirmation" model of import transfer, comprehensively build a new offshore international trade service model, and implement a new "self-portrait" access and operation mechanism... Since the establishment of the Qingdao Free Trade Zone, 332 innovative achievements have been formed, of which 97 institutional innovation achievements have been promoted to Shandong Province and the whole country.

Major platforms expand their energy and improve their quality, and build a demonstration zone for local economic and trade cooperation in China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization-

Qingdao Jiaozhou, SCO Industrial Internet Featured Pilot Zone, Haier Kaos Industrial Internet Ecological Park Refrigerator Factory, the same production line can assemble nearly 20 different models of refrigerators.

"Based on the smart home appliance industry, the park provides industrial supporting facilities and industrial Internet services to the countries of the SCO and countries jointly built the Belt and Road Initiative." Zhou Yunjie, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Haier Group, said that the overall order volume of factories increased significantly in the first seven months of this year.

The upgrade of the park is a microcosm of the expansion and quality improvement of the SCO demonstration zone.

"Continue to improve the policy system, promote information sharing, logistics interoperability, and project docking, and further enhance the resilience and security level of the SCO national industrial chain and supply chain." Zhang Xinzhu, member of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the SCO Demonstration Zone, introduced that in April this year, Shandong proposed 23 support measures in four aspects: promoting comprehensive reform, major platform construction, economic and trade industry cooperation, and optimizing the development environment, and accelerated the expansion and quality of the SCO Demonstration Zone.

"Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, we will continue to promote higher-level opening up to the outside world, cultivate new advantages in high-quality development, and inject new impetus into deepening regional cooperation." Zeng Zanrong, member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee, said.

"People's Daily" (page 01, August 12, 2025)