SCO Digital Economy Forum in Tianjin Secures Over 1.35 Billion Yuan in Deals
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum kicked off in Tianjin, northern China, on Friday. Co-hosted by China’s National Data Administration and the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, the forum centers around the theme “New Bonds in the Digital Economy, New Horizons for Cooperation.”
A significant side event—the Digital Economy Project Signing Ceremony and Data Industry Promotion—drew over 100 companies from regions such as Beijing, Zhejiang, and Henan. A total of 21 projects were signed on-site, with investments exceeding 1.35 billion yuan (about $186 million). These projects cover critical sectors of the digital economy, including computing power infrastructure, low-altitude economy, smart healthcare, and intelligent energy.
Another key event, the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Digital Technology Application Promotional Event, highlighted recent achievements by Tianjin’s SOEs in artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, and smart manufacturing. The session provided a platform for international exchange, project matchmaking, and cooperation under the SCO framework.
The forum featured an opening ceremony and main forum, four themed sub-forums, and various interactive experiences. Key areas of focus included cross-border data flows, industrial digital transformation, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, smart cities, and digital talent development.
Government officials, business leaders, academics, and think tank representatives from SCO member states gathered at the main forum. Participants shared insights and built consensus on topics such as industrial digitalization, data value exploration, and digital technology applications. The event also saw the release of model cases for China-SCO digital economy cooperation and a signing ceremony for key collaboration projects.
The four sub-forums delved into themes like “Data-Driven Industrial Empowerment,” “Innovations in Digital Education and Cross-Border Talent Development,” “Data Governance and Ecological Collaboration,” and “Building Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure for Urban Futures.”
In recent years, Tianjin has prioritized the development of the digital economy. In the first quarter of 2025, the city’s core digital economy industries saw a 12.2% year-on-year revenue increase, with their added value accounting for 9.4% of the city’s GDP.
The successful launch of the forum marks a significant step forward in Tianjin’s efforts to implement China’s national digital economy strategy and deepen digital cooperation within the SCO framework. It also provides a valuable platform for fostering practical international collaboration in the digital domain.
