Qingdao institute offers a new window to study, understand SCO states

chinadaily.com.cn2025-07-07 20:01

　　Jamshed Shamsiev, a 20-year-old (right) from Tajikistan, studying at the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade talks with journalists during a media tour on Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Jamshed Shamsiev, 19, from Tajikistan, is actively pursuing his ambitions. For the past nine months, he's been immersed in Chinese language and business courses at the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Institute of Economy and Trade in Qingdao, Shandong province — a strategic stepping stone toward his dream of obtaining a degree in international business taught entirely in Chinese.

　　"Learning the language in its native environment is accelerating my progress," he said, adding that the institute offers a unique international environment, a modern curriculum, and hands-on opportunities.

　　"It connects students from SCO-related countries and fosters real intercultural dialogue," he added.

　　Students from the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade visit a wig manufacturer in Jiaozhou, a county-level city in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Launched in January 2022, the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade was established as a key initiative in China to deepen economic collaboration and people-to-people ties among SCO member states.

　　The institute is located in Jiaozhou, a county-level city in Qingdao, where the core area of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area is based.

　　The institute spans two campuses with the eastern campus covering 10,500 square meters and the western campus covering 97,300 square meters. Its facilities, including lecture halls, dormitories, and dining areas, can accommodate 3,000 trainees and 700 residential students.

　　Students from the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade experience traditional paper-cutting culture. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Since its establishment, the institute has hosted 294 training sessions attended by over 20,000 participants from 84 countries, including SCO members and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Zheng Shi, director of the institute.

　　In partnership with more than 30 overseas institutions and over 30 domestic universities and research centers, the institute focuses on cultivating innovative, practical talent well-versed in SCO nations' economies and international business norms, said Zheng.

　　Skomarov Stepan, a 20-year-old Russian studying Chinese at the institute, said he was impressed by its dynamic activities, from corporate visits to cultural workshops.

　　"I hope to apply what I've learned to cultural exchange — perhaps as a translator in the future," he said.