Xi also pushed for closer cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy
Enhanced connectivity has propelled trade to new heights. Last year, China's trade with other SCO countries hit a record 890 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade.
A range of initiatives proposed by Xi -- from the local economic cooperation zone in Qingdao and the agricultural technology training base in Shaanxi to expanded use of local currency settlement -- have deepened practical collaboration among SCO members, according to Li Yongquan, a senior researcher at China's State Council Development Research Center.
Xi also pushed for closer cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy, e-commerce and artificial intelligence (AI), where China's industrial edges offer opportunities for other SCO members.
A recent poll among SCO countries found that nearly 70 percent of respondents credit the organization with advancing their nations' sustainable development and modernization.