Seven Seas Economic Cooperation and Business Association
Unblocking the Arteries of the Middle Corridor
Constructing the Economic Vascular System of the Seven Seas
The Seven Seas Economic Cooperation and Business Association (Abbreviation: The Shanhai Economic Cooperation Organization) headquartered in Türkiye, a transcontinental hub spanning the Eurasian landmass and known as the "Middle Corridor" connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. It aims to integrate the advantageous resources of countries surrounding the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Persian Gulf, so as to promote in-depth regional economic cooperation, commercial trade and cultural exchanges, and advance the cause of economic globalization.
I. Purpose, Positioning, and Development Goals
（1）Background
In the backdrop of the irreversible process of global economic globalization, regional economic cooperation has become the only way to enhance regional competitiveness and achieve common development. The Seven Seas region is endowed with abundant natural resources, a diverse industrial structure, and a huge consumer market. However, due to geopolitical factors, trade barriers and other reasons, the potential for economic cooperation among countries in the region has not been fully exploited. The Seven Seas Economic Cooperation and Business Association came into being, striving to break these barriers and build an open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and win-win economic cooperation platform.
（2）Purpose
The purpose of The Shanhai Economic Cooperation Organization(SECO) is to achieve sustainable economic growth and common prosperity in the Seven Seas region through coordinating national policies, promoting resource sharing, and driving technological innovation. Headquartered in Istanbul, the SECO has opened and connected the Middle Corridor, building a bridge among the nations of the Seven Seas region, with the mission to activate the "Seven Seas" as the "economic bloodstream" of the Eurasian continent. Drawing on the experience of ASEAN, it promotes the "Seven Seas Certification" mutual recognition mechanism, prioritizing breakthroughs in areas such as Halal certification for agricultural products and building seismic resistance standards, to advance regional cooperation.
（3）Positioning
1.SECO deepens the multilateral cooperation mechanism in the Eurasian economic circle, systematically advances the construction of the five major areas of "policy communication, facility connectivity, trade accessibility, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds", and strengthens the driving force for regional economic integration development.
2.SECO builds a hub of overseas Chinese affairs network with the Chinese community, overseas Chinese, and Chinese descendants in Türkiye at its core, gives full play to their advantages in private resources and localized operation capabilities. It effectively offsets the shortcoming in market flexibility of the state-owned enterprises in the government-led model of investment in Europe and Asia, and helps form a diversified investment pattern of government-enterprise collaboration.
（4）Objectives
1.SECO constructs a collaborative governance system for the Eurasian regional industrial chain, and builds a full-process industrial chain service hub with Türkiye as the core. By establishing a multilateral rules coordination mechanism, a standardized certification system, and a digital supervision platform, it systematically breaks down tariff and non-tariff barriers, optimizes the efficiency of regional factor allocation, and forms a development pattern of deep industrial chain integration and dynamic collaboration.
2.Relying on Türkiye's geostrategic location as the "Middle Corridor", SECO constructs a logistics tokenization ecosystem based on blockchain technology to promote international cooperation driven by the twin engines of the digital economy and green economy. Through deepening the technological integration of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and supply chains, it innovates green financial products and cross-border payment and settlement models, and builds a new paradigm for regional economic development that adapts to the reconstruction of global value chains and the carbon neutrality transition.
3.SECO builds an International Empowerment Platform for SMEs, integrating full-chain service resources such as policy research, market intelligence, cross-border e-commerce, legal & financial taxation, and financing guarantee. SECO constructs a full-cycle risk management system covering risk assessment, early-warning monitoring, and crisis response. Through data-driven precision services and industrial cluster collaboration mechanisms, it significantly enhances the global market competitiveness and risk resilience of SMEs.
2、Membership Composition
The members of the SECO cover numerous countries around the Seven Seas and Central Asian nations, which are geographically interconnected and economically distinctive with unique strengths. While also radiating to countries worldwide to promote global economic and trade development and cooperation, the member states include economies like Russia, Iran, and Türkiye that are frequently subject to Western sanctions. Through non-political platforms such as energy cooperation and local currency settlement mechanisms, SECO provides alternative cooperation pathways for "blocked economies" and "marginalized economies", expanding their space for survival and development.
3、Business Scope
（1）Trade Promotion
SECO actively promotes free trade among member states, reduces trade barriers, simplifies trade procedures, and lowers trade costs. It regularly organizes various international trade fairs, negotiation meetings, and other events to build a platform for exchange and cooperation among enterprises of member states. SECO constructs a regional standardized collaborative mutual recognition system, deepens the standard alignment and mutual recognition mechanism among member states in key areas such as agricultural and industrial products, eliminates technical trade barriers, and promotes the free flow of commodity inputs within the region. SECO builds a regional comprehensive cross-border e-commerce service platform, innovates the warehouse receipt pledge financing model, integrates full-chain service resources, constructs an e-commerce ecosystem, and promotes the digital transformation of trade and industrial collaborative development within the region.
（2）Investment Cooperation
SECO establishes an investment information service platform to provide investors with investment guides covering policy, legal, cultural aspects and risk aversion, organize investment inspection delegations and negotiations, and offers security guarantees and investment promotion services for major investment projects. It constructs a dual-driven financial system of "trade digitization + special investment funds", establishes a diversified fund matrix with key investments in critical strategic sectors, builds a digital investment and financing service platform relying on technology, forms a full-life cycle financial service ecosystem, and strengthens the financial supporting role in regional economic cooperation.
（3）Technical exchange and innovation
SECO actively organizes technical standard alignment and technology exchange activities among member states, and encourages enterprises of member states to strengthen technological R&D cooperation. SECO builds an Eurasian scientific and technological innovation cooperation platform, establishes cross-disciplinary joint laboratories, focuses on strategic emerging industries, integrate resources, carries out frontier technology research and achievement transformation, and promotes the efficient flow and deep integration of scientific and technological resources within the region. SECO creates a deep cooperation service system for China-Europe green transition, carries out adaptive investment cooperation in aviation, electric vehicles and new energy fields, builds a cross-border carbon trading market, shares low-carbon emission reduction technologies and management experience, and promotes the collaborative development and sustainable transformation of green industries within the region.
（4）Energy cooperation
Committed to promoting cooperation among member states in all links of energy, SECO drives the rational development and effective utilization of energy resources, and ensures the stability and security of regional energy supply. The Clean Energy Cooperation Fund promotes the development of solar energy, wind power, and energy storage technologies. Through issuing Seven Seas bonds, it finances the construction of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) transportation network.
（5）Cooperation in infrastructure construction
SECO actively promotes cooperation among member countries in infrastructure fields such as transportation, communications, and energy transportation, improves regional logistics efficiency, and promotes regional economic integration. By jointly building infrastructure (such as the Caspian Sea Railway), regional logistics efficiency can be further improved
（6）Promotion of the development of Chinese
SECO establishes a special mechanism to prioritize the localized development of Chinese businesses in Türkiye, assisting them in integrating into the local business ecosystem and building a bridge for economic, technological, cultural, and educational exchanges between China, Türkiye, and the world. SECO provides full-process support for Chinese enterprises in landing and development, including policy alignment, resource integration, training, risk pre-control, and other services. It promotes multilateral exchanges and cooperation between China and Türkiye, and the world by building a digital economy cooperation platform, establishing a Clean Energy Cooperation Fund, launching cultural exchange programs, and organizing Chinese businesses to participate in regional economic and trade activities. SECO facilitates the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Seven Seas economic circle, leverage Türkiye's "Middle Corridor" advantage to form a three-tier cross-regional industrial chain cooperation springboard. It establishes a service center to provide consulting and legal aid, formulates social responsibility guidelines, regularly releases development reports, and safeguards the rights and interests of Chinese businesses.
（7）Regional customs clearance cooperation and trade facilitation
1.Together, SECO builds the "Seven Seas Together" fast customs clearance network, collaborates with customs and trade management departments of member states to establish a rapid coordination mechanism, achieve "one inspection, region-wide clearance" for cargo customs clearance within the region, pilot the "Intelligent Customs Clearance Green List" system, and carry out digital customs clearance training in conjunction with the World Customs Organization to create a convenient regional customs clearance network.
2.SECO constructs the "Logistics Circle Steward" collaborative system, unites enterprises along the China-Europe Railway Express route, optimizes the "Return Journey Circle" multimodal transport services, expands the branch network, and enhances the transportation efficiency of the China-Europe Railway Express.
3.SECO creates a digital connectivity corridor, takes Türkiye as a node to promote digital interconnection of ports, railways, customs, and more, introduces a blockchain documentation system, and improves the overall efficiency of cross-border logistics.
（8）International friendly cities and industrial collaborative network
SECO launches the "Seven Seas Friendly Cities Alliance" program to promote the establishment of industrial docking mechanisms among core cities of member states, establishes a "Friendly Cities Industrial Fund" to support the joint construction of cross-border industrial parks, and form an integrated industrial chain. It regularly hosts the "Seven Seas Urban Summit" to facilitate inter-city technology transfer, talent exchange, and infrastructure connectivity.
（9）Financial innovation and cross-border settlement system
1.Based on the energy trade and real economy needs of the Seven Seas region, SECO collaborates with central banks and financial institutions of member states to develop the "Seven Seas Stablecoin", accompanied by the construction of a decentralized cross-border payment system to reduce reliance on the SWIFT system.
2.SECO promotes member states to establish the "Seven Seas Multilateral Settlement Alliance", expands the scope of local currency settlement, pilots a barter trade mechanism, launches trade insurance agency services in conjunction with international reinsurance companies, and develops the "Seven Seas Bonds" derivative market.
（10）Technology empowerment and resource development innovation
1.SECO establishes the "Seven Seas Intelligent Resources Research Institute", introduces artificial intelligence and satellite remote sensing technologies, constructs a regional mineral resources database, provides intelligent exploration services, and promotes the application of blockchain technology in mineral traceability.
2. Relying on Türkiye's data center cluster, SECO builds the "Seven Seas Digital Hub", formulates cross-border data flow rules, and supports the compliant circulation of data within the region.
（11）Training and Cultural Exchanges
1.SECO constructs a collaborative network for Eurasian youth skills development, jointly develops customized technical training programs with various parties, establishes a standardized curriculum system and quality assessment mechanism, and enhances the professional competitiveness of young labor forces.
2.SECO establishes a think tank collaboration platform for Eurasian economic integration, integrates resources, carries out joint research projects, releases authoritative research reports, and hosts academic forums to provide intellectual support for regional economic cooperation.
（12）Promote International Organizational Cooperation
Through deep collaboration with diverse international organizations, SECO construct a marine economic cooperation ecosystem. It deepens connections with regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Belt and Road Maritime Cooperation Mechanism and the ASEAN Marine Economy Forum. It strengthens the collaborative effectiveness with industry associations such as the International Shipping Association and the World Ocean Council. It promotes coordination with regional marine economic alliances such as the China-ASEAN Marine Cooperation Center and the Bohai Rim Regional Marine Economic Cooperation, and expands the value of professional exhibition platforms such as the China Marine Economy Expo.
（13）Policy Coordination and Risk Management
1.SECO constructs a policy dialogue and coordination mechanism, establishes the "Eurasian Business Circle Exchange Platform", promotes government-enterprise exchanges, and enhances policy transparency and predictability.
2.SECO improves the regional commercial legal service system, establishes a professional regional commercial arbitration center to provide legal and arbitration services, and carries out legal training and consultations.
3. SECO implements a geostrategic risk hedging strategy, pursues diversified supply chain layouts, strengthens supply chain collaborative cooperation within the region, and establishes an emergency response mechanism.
4、Differentiated Competitive Advantages
（1）Agile Response Mechanism
Compared with traditional intergovernmental organizations, relying on a flat management structure and people-oriented service system, SECO establishes a rapid response channel for enterprise needs, abandons lengthy decision-making processes, provides customized solutions for enterprises, and enhances service efficiency and precision.>
（2）SME Empowerment System
Aiming at the pain point of difficult resource access for SMEs participating in regional cooperation, SECO builds a "Circle Key Person One-Stop" service system, integrates full-chain resources, and helps SMEs integrate into the Eurasian regional economic cycle
（3）Technological Innovation-Driven Engine
SECO introduces cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain and AI. It uses blockchain to achieve trusted evidence storage of trade data and automatic performance of cross-border transactions, leverages AI to optimize data analysis and intelligent decision-making, and promotes the digital and intelligent transformation of regional cooperation models.
5、Potential Challenges and Response Strategies
（1）Geopolitical Risks
The geopolitical landscape in Eurasia is complex. It is necessary to construct a pluralistic coordination mechanism, establish a high-level dialogue platform, consider the interests of all parties, and formulate a dynamic political risk assessment system to ensure the stability and flexibility of cooperation.
（2）Funding Gaps
SECO innovatively adopts the PPP model to attract private capital to participate in projects, cooperates with international development financial institutions, and builds an investment and financing information sharing platform to break through funding bottlenecks.
（3）Cultural Differences
SECO forms a localized professional team, establishes a multilingual service system, advocates inclusive cultural concepts, and organizes cultural exchange activities to promote cultural integration and cooperation.
6、Future development
SECO further strengthens the "Digital-Financial-Physical" synergy system. In the digital field, SECO improves the technical alignment between the AI prospecting platform and the stablecoin payment network. In the financial field, SECO promotes the Seven Seas Stablecoin to become the benchmark pricing unit for regional energy trade and expand its application scenarios. In the physical field, SECO constructs an "Intelligent Logistics Corridor", launches blockchain-based freight insurance agency services, and achieves end-to-end digitization.
SECO establishes a Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Institute with Istanbul as the neutral judicial jurisdiction. It develops a Seven Seas Cultural Index to quantitatively assess the cultural compatibility of investment projects. In the face of geopolitical tensions, SECO establishes a crisis buffer fund, alternative logistics channels, and a digital monitoring system to enhance the SECO 's shock resistance. SECO promotes the coordination and unification of standard systems among member states to address differences in laws, technical standards, and labor policies.
With its dual attributes of energy leverage and civilizational buffer zone, SECO holds broad development prospects and a unique strategic position in regional economic cooperation. It is committed to becoming one of the world's most influential regional economic cooperation organizations, making greater contributions to the economic prosperity and social development of the Seven Seas region.
