■ The SCO Institute of Economy and Trade conducts innovation and entrepreneurship training for foreign students.

Close economic and trade cooperation is inseparable from the support of economic and trade talents. Cultivating high-level talents who are familiar with the multilateral and bilateral economic and trade rules of the SCO member countries and countries along the "Belt and Road" is the basic driving force for the SCO member countries to understand and communicate with each other and advance cooperation in various fields to a higher level.

Qingdao has undertaken this responsibility and mission. On September 17, 2021, President Xi Jinping announced at the 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States that "China will establish the SCO Institute of Economy and Trade to facilitate the development of the organization's multilateral economic and trade cooperation." On September 18, the Ministry of Commerce made it clear when interpreting the results of the summit that the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade would be established based on the SCO Demonstration Zone.

The SCO Institute of Economy and Trade, which with high expectations, is taking a "big step" and rides the wind. In January this year, the institute was officially inaugurated, establishing the SCO Demonstration Zone as the main body for promotion, and Qingdao University as the main body for implementation, carry out the dean responsibility system under the leadership of the Council, and continuously expanding the field of training. Targeting at the economic and trade needs of SCO countries and countries along the “Belt and Road”, the institute will carry out various forms of training. At present, 7 classes of foreign-aid training and economic and trade training have been organized, and more than 1,600 people have participated in the training.

 Building a World-Class Economy and Trade Institute

The construction of the SCO Institute of Economy and Trade is another major task which was handed over to Shandong and Qingdao by the state, and there is neither precedent nor established experience to follow. How to run it best with characteristics and achievements? “The Charter of SCO Institute of Economy and Trade” clearly states that it is positioned to highlight openness, internationalization, marketization and innovation, and should be committed to building a world-class economy and trade institution with SCO characteristics and international influence to help the multilateral economic and trade development of SCO-related countries.

The goal is set, and the action must follow. Since the inauguration, all governing units have given full play to their own resource advantages to carry out education and training, academic exchange activities and cooperative education projects with rich SCO elements and distinctive economic and trade characteristics.

As the main body of implementation, Qingdao University further improves the internal governance system of the SCO Institute of Economy and Trade, strengthens the training of international talents, and establishes friendly and cooperative relations with St. Petersburg State University of Russia, Belarusian State University, etc.. In addition, the "Economy + Mathematics" project in cooperation with St. Petersburg State University in Russia has been approved as an "international cooperation training project" awarded by the China Scholarship Council, and the established "SCO English-Russian Bilingual Innovation Experimental Class" has recruited students for the first time in 2021, highlighting the dual foreign language characteristics of "English + Russian", and is committed to cultivating top versatile talents of foreign language who can be competent in foreign trade, foreign language education, news and media, etc..

In addition to Qingdao University, each governing unit also based on its own functions, actively serves and integrates into the construction of SCO Institute of Economy and Trade, and carries out active explorations in education and training, academic research, and think tank construction. For example, the University of International Business and Economics actively strives to host 10 foreign-aid training programs, and conducts Russian language training and preparatory training programs with College of Public Administration of Moscow State University and other institutions.

Physical space is an important part of educational resources. In 2021, the Management Committee of the SCO Demonstration Zone completed the renovation of the institute during the transitional period, and upgraded the education and scientific research area, living facilities and other areas. At present, the total construction area of the teaching building during the transitional period is about 10,500 square meters, with 21 classrooms, 1 reading room, 2 live broadcast rooms, 6 teachers' offices, 10 conference rooms, 2 halal restaurants, etc., which can meet the learning and living needs of 1,200 teachers and students.

 Plan to Train More than 7,000 People during the Year

Those who take great responsibility will have great achievements, and those who make great efforts will have great harvests. This year, the SCO Institute of Economy and Trade plans to carry out education, teaching and training in 11 professional fields including cross-border e-commerce, financial economy and trade, and skill training. It will hold 75 training sessions and train more than 7,000 people. Currently, each training session is progressing steadily as planned.

Aiming to become "world-class" requires all governing units to form a strong synergy just as "ten fingers close together, fists clench and draw the circle with one heart". Li Gang, Vice Director of the SCO Institute of Economy and Trade, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the SCO Demonstration Zone and Executive Deputy Director of the Management Committee, said that as the main body of promoting the construction of the institute, the SCO Demonstration Zone will build a cooperation platform with a more open attitude, promote its construction with the goal of assisting the multilateral economic and trade development of the SCO countries, help it to cultivate practical economic and trade talents who have both an international perspective and a future-oriented perspective, continuously deepen pragmatic cooperation with SCO countries in the fields of economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges, etc., and make new breakthroughs in the construction of the new platform for "Belt and Road" international cooperation.

All governing units should comprehensively enhance the teaching ability of the institute, focus on playing a platform role in the domestic market, concentrate school-running resources, and form the dynamic situation of multi-disciplinary and multi-professional development. Facing the world, it is necessary to highlight the construction of economic and trade disciplines, strengthen educational cooperation with SCO countries, strengthen communication and exchanges in the curriculum setting, talent training, and project co-construction of the institute, and build it into a new highlight of educational cooperation, a new model of education and training, and a new base for enterprise-institute-research integration, thus polishing the "Golden Signboard" of the SCO Institute of Economy and Trade.