China's BRI: SCO Summit Highlights Cooperation; Turkey Seeks Alignment with Middle Corridor
Key Takeaways
- China's investment in SCO member states reached $84 billion; trade hit $512.4 billion in 2024.
- Turkey and China are aligning the BRI with Turkey's Middle Corridor Initiative.
- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to become a 'growth, livelihood, green and open corridor'.
- China and Cambodia deepen cooperation, focusing on the Industrial and Fish and Rice Corridors.
- Maldives seeks expanded trade, investment, and tourism ties with China at SCO Summit.
Top Stories
SCO summit boosts cooperation; China's investment exceeds $84B.
On August 31, 2025, the SCO summit in Tianjin focused on security and economic partnerships, highlighting China's $84 billion investment in member states. Trade between China and SCO members reached $512.4 billion in 2024, representing 8.3% of China's foreign trade.
Turkey and China discuss aligning BRI with Middle Corridor Initiative.
On August 31, 2025, President Erdogan met with President Xi in Tianjin to discuss aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Turkey's Middle Corridor Initiative. They aim to strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, and technology.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to become 'growth, livelihood, green'.
China and Pakistan are set to elevate their strategic partnership, upgrading the CPEC into a "growth, livelihood, green and open corridor." Bilateral trade reached $23.1 billion in 2024, an 11.1 percent increase.
China and Cambodia deepen cooperation, focus on industrial corridors.
On August 30, 2025, President Xi met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Tianjin, pledging deeper cooperation across all sectors, focusing on the "Industrial Development Corridor" and "Fish and Rice Corridor."
Maldives seeks expanded trade and investment ties with China.
From August 31 to September 1, 2025, President Muizzu attended the SCO Summit in Tianjin and met with President Xi, expressing willingness to expand cooperation in trade, investment, housing construction, and tourism.
Global Impact
Armenia supports 'Shanghai Spirit,' links peace initiative to BRI.
Ahead of the 2025 SCO Summit, Armenian Ambassador Vahe Gevorgyan expressed Armenia's support for the "Shanghai Spirit" and highlighted the synergy between Armenia's "Crossroads of Peace" initiative and China's Belt and Road Initiative.