Since its founding in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has grown from five to ten member states, now representing nearly half the worlds population and a quarter of global GDP.
Guided by the "Shanghai Spirit"—mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development—the SCO has steadily improved its cooperation mechanisms and expanded its global reach.
At the heart of this success: infrastructure connectivity. Highways, railways and pipelines are no longer plans on paper—theyre operational arteries fueling trade and growth. In 2024, the China-Europe Railway Express, which passes through SCO countries and regions, recorded 19,000 trips—a 10.7% year-on-year increase—underscoring rising demand for reliable freight links.
Take the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) International Highway, completed in 2018. By slashing freight costs by $300500 per ton, it has supercharged trade. Chinas exports to Uzbekistan jumped from $6.26 billion in 2018 to $13.78 billion in 2024; trade with Kyrgyzstan soared from $2 billion to $22.71 billion over the same period. Beyond numbers, this corridor has created jobs and improved daily lives across Central Asia.
Building on this momentum, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project kicked off in December 2024 and is now in full construction. When open, it will further cut transit times, lower logistics costs and weave an even tighter economic fabric across the region.
As the SCO strengthens its connectivity backbone, member states unlock new opportunitiesfrom sustainable trade corridors to digital linkagespaving the way for a more integrated and prosperous future.
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Strengthen regional connectivity within the SCO to unlock the future
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