Tianjin (TDI): A major highlight of the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum, held in Tianjin on July 11, was the signing of 21 strategic cooperation agreements with a total investment value exceeding 1.35 billion yuan (approximately $186 million).
These agreements mark a significant leap in digital connectivity and cross-border technological partnerships within the SCO region.
The signing took place during the Digital Economy Project Signing Ceremony and Data Industry Promotion event, a dedicated session held alongside the main forum.
Over 100 companies from across China—including firms from Beijing, Zhejiang, and Henan provinces participated in the signing event, engaging directly with representatives from SCO member states and observers.
The event served as a matchmaking platform, linking businesses, government stakeholders, and data industry actors in pursuit of shared digital transformation goals.
The 21 agreements span a diverse range of high-priority digital sectors. These include computing power infrastructure, low-altitude economy technologies such as drones and aerial logistics, intelligent healthcare platforms, big data integration, and smart energy systems.
Many of the projects signed are expected to serve as pilots for future expansion across member countries, contributing to the broader SCO agenda of industrial digitalization and regional innovation.
Officials stated that the investment figures represent more than just capital flows. According to a spokesperson for the Tianjin municipal government, the deals are designed to build long-term partnerships, enable technological transfers, and support practical cooperation on emerging technologies across the SCO space.
The emphasis is on turning policy consensus into actionable outcomes that improve digital access, capabilities, and sustainability across borders.
The agreements also reflect China’s commitment to building the Digital Silk Road, an initiative aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure, interoperability, and innovation along Belt and Road routes.
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As the host city, Tianjin has positioned itself as a digital innovation hub, leveraging its own technological ecosystem to anchor regional cooperation under the SCO framework.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Tianjin’s digital economy core industries posted a 12.2% year-on-year revenue increase, with their added value accounting for 9.4% of the city’s GDP.
Several of the signed projects are backed by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that have developed advanced capabilities in artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud-based solutions.
During a separate showcase, Tianjin’s SOEs displayed their latest innovations and invited potential collaborators to join upcoming demonstration zones and test beds within the city’s digital economy pilot areas.
The successful conclusion of the signing ceremony not only strengthens regional digital integration but also sets the tone for practical, project-driven cooperation among SCO member countries.
It is expected that the outcomes from Tianjin will translate into expanded connectivity, talent exchange, and shared standards for data flows and technological innovation.
The 2025 SCO Digital Economy Forum, co-organized by China’s National Data Administration and the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, was attended by more than 1,500 delegates from across the region.
The event’s central theme—“New Bonds in the Digital Economy, New Horizons for Cooperation”—was visibly reflected in the nature and scope of the agreements signed, as member states work to unlock new growth areas in the rapidly evolving digital age.
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