The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Alibaba Group successfully held a seminar on cross-border e-commerce on June 29, 2021.

The seminar focused on cross-border e-commerce, discussed how new retail can promote exports to China, how cross-border e-commerce can help small and medium-sized enterprises in Central Asian countries export to global markets, the importance of digital trade facilitation, and capacity building for entrepreneurs. Participants attended in person at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing, and online via videoconference.

Mr. Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of the SCO, chaired the seminar. In his remarks, he emphasized that in the era of digital economy, the development of cross-border e-commerce is of great significance to SCO member countries, especially during the pandemic, and that there is a great need to promote cross-border e-commerce to help small and medium-sized enterprises. He expressed the hope that eWTP could share its experience and strengthen cooperation with SCO countries and businesses.

Government officials and business representatives from Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, as well as China, Russia and other countries attended the seminar and actively discussed how cross-border e-commerce could assist their development.