Over 300 delegates from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states gathered in Tianjin this week for the 2025 Inter-Civilizational Dialogue, launching a multi-day exploration of cultural heritage and digital innovation. The event, blending traditional calligraphy exhibitions with cutting-edge discussions on artificial intelligence, underscores Asia's growing role in shaping global technological ethics.
Delegates examined rare Tang Dynasty manuscripts alongside presentations about smart city development during thematic forums. A highlight included a live demonstration of AI-powered language translation tools facilitating real-time conversations between Uygur, Russian, and Hindi speakers – a practical example of technology bridging civilizational divides.
The Dialogue's landmark report proposes creating standardized digital heritage preservation protocols across SCO nations. 'By digitizing Dunhuang's Buddhist grottoes alongside Samarkand's Islamic manuscripts, we're building a shared cultural cloud,' explained Dr. Amina Yusupova, a Silk Road historian from Uzbekistan.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in a written message, emphasized the convergence of China's modernization drive with SCO's digital transformation goals. The report specifically outlines cooperative frameworks for rural 5G infrastructure development and cross-border e-commerce security – areas where Chinese tech giants have pledged technical support.
With Kazakhstan announcing plans to host next year's Dialogue in Almaty, the Tianjin meeting concludes with delegates adopting a roadmap for establishing regional AI ethics guidelines by 2027.
