SCO summit 2018 will be held in Qingdao

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) 2018 will be held in coastal city of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

Wang made the remarks while addressing a keynote speech at a seminar on global situation and China's diplomacy held in Beijing.

China plans good preparations for the SCO summit, which is expected to create more consensus between China and the neighboring nations, Wang said, adding that the summit is going to boost forces for regional cooperation.

Sun Zhuangzhi, secretary-general of the SCO Research Center affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily that the selection of Qingdao as the host city reflects China's advocacy of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Qingdao has both land connection with Europe through railways and maritime connection with other countries, he said, adding that the city plays an important role in building the Belt Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.