The 14th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Prime Ministers’ meeting opens on Dec 14 in Zhengzhou in Central China’s Henan province. The two-day meeting brings together heads of government of the SCO member countries and the observer countries.

Participants are expected to discuss SCO cooperation in trade, investment, finance, transportation and culture. A statement will also be made on regional economic cooperation, reiterating support for regional development strategies including the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Compared with the annual gathering of SCO heads of state, the prime ministers’ meeting focuses more on member countries’ development issues and their economic collaboration.

Security and economic cooperation are often regarded as the two “wheels” of the SCO. Since its founding in 2001, the increasingly influential bloc has made remarkable achievements in combating terrorism and economic cooperation.