Tianjin Inaugurates SCO Port Economy Center to Boost Trade and Logistics

Tianjin has formally launched the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Port Economy Cooperation Center to enhance port resource sharing, customs clearance efficiency, and maritime coordination among SCO member states. Based at the Tianjin International Trade and Shipping Service Center, the new institution focuses on three areas: developing smart customs demonstration pilots, expanding maritime service innovations like offshore ship registration, and clustering port and shipping industries in the Binhai New Area. The launch completes a municipal cooperation architecture following earlier SCO platforms established in green industry, the digital economy, and vocational education.

The center addresses physical and administrative bottlenecks in Eurasian trade by providing a dedicated mechanism for port and customs collaboration. By targeting standards interoperability, dangerous goods transport safety, and logistics infrastructure export, the platform aims to strengthen northern China's role as a maritime gateway for both coastal and landlocked SCO partner economies.

Tianjin has officially inaugurated the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Port Economy Cooperation Center, marking an effort to deepen port resource sharing, trade facilitation, and logistics coordination across member states, according to a report by Xinhua published in People's Daily. The center was unveiled at the Tianjin International Trade and Shipping Service Center. Speaking at the launch event, Tianjin Vice Mayor Wang Xiufeng stated that Tianjin serves as a northern maritime gateway and an important frontline for China's engagement with SCO countries. Wang noted that the initiative aims to leverage the municipality's platform and maritime advantages to smooth cross-border logistics and lower trade barriers. According to official plans, the center's work will focus on three core areas. First, it will explore customs clearance model innovations, serving as a demonstration site for the General Administration of Customs' 'smart customs' framework. This initiative will research the alignment of technical trade measures and standards interoperability to automate cross-border clearance. Second, the center plans to expand opening-up in maritime services. Key initiatives include establishing offshore ship registration mechanisms, streamlining foreign-related maritime administrative procedures, and reinforcing safety protocols for the maritime transport of dangerous goods to safeguard international shipping lanes. Third, the center will seek to aggregate maritime industrial elements, aiming to upgrade the Binhai New Area's shipping cluster. It plans to promote the outward export of port infrastructure construction capabilities and operational management techniques while expanding service networks linked to the SCO and the Belt and Road Initiative. The establishment of the center finalizes a broader institutional layout for Tianjin. In September 2025, the city launched the China-SCO Green Industry Cooperation Platform, the Digital Economy Cooperation Platform, and the Vocational Education Cooperation Center. Zeng Quanyi, director of the Tianjin International Trade and Shipping Service Center, said the city will use the new port center to build an efficient, collaborative port economic ecosystem with participating countries.