Practical outcomes emerge from Tianjin's SCO summit

China has unveiled two new initiatives along with other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization following the summit which ended in Tianjin earlier this week.

On Tuesday, the China-SCO Platform for Green Industry Cooperation was inaugurated in the Ziya Economic Development Area (ZEDA) in Tianjin's Jinghai district. Officials say the platform will accelerate joint projects, technology exchanges and the alignment of standards in renewable energy and other green sectors.

Wang Junfeng, director of the Circular Economy and Low-Carbon Development Research Center at Nankai University, said the move will allow SCO nations to draw on China's expertise in green innovation.

"It fosters a shared commitment to sustainable development," he said.

Highlighting Tianjin's pivotal role in this area, Wang said the city hosts large-scale manufacturing clusters in renewable energy— including wind, solar and hydrogen energy — and leads in circular economy.

The ZEDA, China's first national-level circular economy hub, exemplifies this strength. By last year, it has housed 3,378 enterprises capable of processing 10 million metric tons of recyclables annually, delivering substantial energy savings and emission reductions.

At the launch, ZEDA deputy Party secretary Zhao Shuang said the aim was to build an "integrated international recycling network". To this end, agreements have been signed with Pakistan's Rashakai Special Economic Zone Development and Management Company and the SINOMACH Belarus Co.

"We aim to develop a holistic solution for urban sustainability, showcasing Chinese approaches and the 'Tianjin Plan' for green governance," said Zhang Yanjian, general manager of Ziya Economic Development Group.

Separately, the China-SCO Vocational Education Cooperation Center has been opened at Tianjin University of Technology and Education. Mi Jing, vice-president of the university, described the initiative as marking a shift from adopting international standards to "exporting China's vocational education framework".

University president Zheng Qingchun said "Through research, educator training and programs in emerging fields like AI and renewables, we contribute China's insights to global vocational education development."

Zang Yifan contributed to this story.