China’s economic ties with fellow members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) continued to expand in the first half of 2025, with bilateral trade volumes approaching $250 billion, according to official figures released by Beijing.
The Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that trade between China and other SCO states grew steadily, driven by stronger cooperation in energy, agriculture, digital economy, and transport infrastructure. The trade figure underscores the bloc’s increasing role as a key platform for regional integration and development.
China remains the largest trading partner for several SCO members, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, while its imports of energy resources and agricultural products from the region continue to rise. Meanwhile, Chinese exports of machinery, vehicles, and consumer goods have also gained traction across Central Asia and South Asia.
Officials highlighted that investment flows have also deepened, with joint projects in renewable energy, logistics, and industrial parks complementing the trade boom. “The SCO has evolved beyond a security and political forum into an important economic cooperation platform,” a ministry spokesperson noted.
Analysts say the nearly $250 billion figure reflects the resilience of regional trade amid global economic uncertainties. “The SCO’s growing economic clout is not only reshaping trade patterns but also reinforcing China’s role as an anchor of regional growth,” said Wang Yiwei, professor of international relations at Renmin University.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, founded in 2001, currently includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as full members, with Iran joining recently. The bloc collectively represents nearly half of the world’s population and a significant share of global GDP.
With trade on track to surpass last year’s record levels, officials from Beijing and other SCO capitals are expected to prioritize economic cooperation at the upcoming SCO summit later this year, with a focus on digital trade, green energy, and infrastructure connectivity.