1、 Introduction

The global trade influence of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has increased, with significant growth in trade volume and proportion. The trade scale between Russia and the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has rapidly expanded, with the ruble settlement ratio exceeding 40%, maintaining a trade surplus. Russia is important in the political field of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with complex economic cooperation, and is more inclined towards the Eurasian Economic Union. China strengthens cooperation with Central Asia, and Russia is concerned about the impact on regional interests. The economic cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is weak, and the construction of free trade zones is slow. The escalation of the Ukrainian crisis and Western sanctions against Russia have affected the economic and trade cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This study uses social network analysis to analyze Russia's position and role in the SCO trade network, providing ideas for China to enhance SCO economic cooperation.

2、 Literature Review

Domestic and foreign scholars' research on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization focuses on three areas: geopolitics and security, humanities, and economy and trade. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is the largest political organization in the Eurasian continent, with a high degree of participation in global governance, facing endogenous challenges and external interference. Russia regards the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an effective means to enhance international influence and constrain the United States. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has a rich concept of security cooperation, and the universality of the new security concept is reflected, providing a regional platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind. The field of cultural cooperation started late, but has made significant achievements in tourism, technology, education, health and other fields. However, it also faces challenges such as insufficient motivation for educational cooperation, insufficient attention to tourism, and inadequate coordination of health policies. In the field of economic and trade cooperation, the SCO has a well-established institutional framework for economic cooperation, a high degree of trade cooperation, investment cooperation benefits people's livelihoods, regional financial cooperation grows, and connectivity construction helps promote regional economic integration. The construction of the "the Belt and Road" and the SCO have mutual influence and cooperation, but there are also problems such as lack of financing mechanism, delay in trade facilitation, and lack of consistency in internal attitudes. The construction of free trade zones in the region is facing difficulties, and Russia's doubts and wariness are the biggest obstacles. Previous research has been insufficient in the field of economy and trade. This article uses import and export trade data between SCO member states and observer countries from 2001 to 2022, and applies social network analysis to analyze the SCO trade network. The focus is on analyzing the changes in Russia's position in the SCO trade network, providing a reference for the SCO to promote the upgrading of trade quality.

3、 Analysis of the Evolution of Trade Development between Russia and Other SCO Countries

Detailed analysis of the trade development between Russia and member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) from 2001 to 2021. China, Belarus, and Kazakhstan are Russia's main trading partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with China being Russia's largest trading partner. Russia's exports to SCO member states are mainly handmade and machine-made goods, paper products, while imports are mainly mineral products, handmade products, and agricultural products. The increasing variety of trade commodities between Russia and SCO countries demonstrates Russia's position as a trading partner in major competitive commodities such as grain, energy, mineral products, and military products. In terms of trade balance, Russia has maintained a trade surplus for most years, especially with more trade links with China, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Russia and the observer countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization also show a trade surplus, especially with a large volume of export trade to Belarus. According to the analysis of the trade integration index, Russia has a high degree of trade links with Central Asian countries, Mongolia, and Belarus, while its trade links with China and Pakistan are relatively low. This indicates that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an important platform for Russia's foreign trade, and Russia maintains a trade surplus within the organization to obtain more foreign exchange income.

4、 Analysis of Russia's Position in the SCO Trade Network Structure

Through social network analysis, this study delves into the changing status of Russia in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) trade network and analyzes the evolution of the SCO trade network structure. The study considers countries as nodes and trade relations as connections, constructing a powerful and undirected trade network, and analyzing it using indicators such as network density, point centrality, proximity centrality, and intermediary centrality. Network density reflects the intensity of trade relations, while centrality analysis reveals the relative importance of nodes in the network. Research has found that since the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the tightness of the trade network has gradually strengthened, especially between 2014 and 2021, with a significant increase in network density values. However, in 2022, due to Western sanctions caused by the Ukraine crisis, Russia's trade ties with SCO member states weakened and network density values decreased.

5、 Main conclusions and China's response strategies

We studied the trade network structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), particularly the changing status of Russia, through social network analysis. Research has found that the trade structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is becoming increasingly complex, with strengthened trade links between member states. Although Russia is in a core position, its trade weight has decreased. The trade network of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is clearly divided, with Russia having close ties with some member countries and relatively loose ties with China, India, and Pakistan. Against the backdrop of global economic downturn and Western sanctions, China should play a core leading role and strengthen economic and trade cooperation with member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Specific response strategies include: 1) strengthening strategic coordination with core member states and eliminating member states' concerns about China's geopolitical advantages; 2) Strengthen economic and trade cooperation with member countries, consider the interests and demands of each country, and enhance the alignment of economic development strategies; 3) Develop advantageous industries and establish regional industrial chain and supply chain security guarantee mechanisms; 4) Give full play to the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization platform, strengthen political mutual trust between China, Russia, and India, and promote policy communication and trade rule formulation. China should actively promote the construction of digital infrastructure and digital trade cooperation with SCO countries to consolidate the surrounding security environment.