SCO cultural projects become platforms for bringing peoples closer together

On July 7, 2025, the 22nd Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States was held in Qingdao in a hybrid format under the chairmanship of the Chinese side, the press service of the Organization reported.

The event was attended by heads of ministries and departments of culture of the Organization's member states, and SCO Secretary General Nurlan Ermekbayev.

The parties exchanged views on the current situation in promoting cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO, and agreed to continue bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the basis of the Agreement between the governments of the SCO member states on cooperation in the field of culture (August 16, 2007, Bishkek).

It was noted that within the SCO, cultural projects are becoming platforms for bringing peoples closer together, building trust and mutual understanding, and promoting ideas of peace and good neighborliness.

In this context, the activities of public diplomacy institutions in China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which play an important role in expanding humanitarian ties and generating public support for SCO initiatives, are highlighted.

Speaking to the participants of the meeting, the Secretary General noted the instructions of the Heads of State to increase the effectiveness of the work of all SCO mechanisms and called on the parties to increase the number of practical projects in the field of culture.

In conclusion, N. Ermekbaev proposed to the parties a number of initiatives aimed at implementing the adopted SCO documents in the sphere of culture, accelerating the translation of the agreement into practice, and holding joint events on current issues of preserving cultural heritage.

The heads of delegations noted the successful holding of a series of cultural events in Qingdao during the city's tenure as the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2024-2025.

Following the meeting, the parties signed a protocol and approved the "List of events for cultural exchange within the SCO for 2025".