The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, a frontier of China's reform and opening-up, hosted the 18th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in June. The eight full SCO members account for nearly half of the world's population and more than one-fifth of global GDP.

At the event, Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the "Shanghai Spirit" and offered a vision of common security and shared prosperity for SCO countries.