The 2024 SCO Summer Craftsmanship Exhibition and the third Qingdao Craftsmanship Festival open on July 21 in Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2024 SCO Summer Craftsmanship Exhibition and the third Qingdao Craftsmanship Festival opened on July 21 at the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center – located in the city of the same name, in East China's Shandong province.

The event gathered numerous skilled artisans from Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO member countries, to showcase their exquisite handmade creations.

According to the organizers, the event aimed to enhance cultural exchanges and promote the high-quality development of the handmade arts sector.

The event featured three main exhibition areas – the SCO products area, a local products area and a university products area. These areas, with a total of 80 stands, attracted local residents and tourists – enabling them to fully appreciate the intricate skills of the artisans and the unique charm of their work.

During the opening ceremony, the organizers recognized outstanding artisans and related enterprises for their contributions. An AI-powered platform was also launched to further support the handmade arts sector.

The county-level city of Jiaozhou that is administered by Qingdao is home to the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area – also known as SCODA – which has emerged as a key hub for commerce and trade between SCO member countries.

Skilled artisans from SCO member countries display their exquisite handmade creations at the exhibition in Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]