2025 SCO Forum Highlights Unity Through Cultural Exchange
The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on People-to-People Exchange opened in Beijing this week, drawing over 100 political, cultural, and media representatives from SCO member states. Co-hosted by China Media Group (CMG) and the SCO Secretariat, the event emphasized cross-cultural collaboration under the framework of the 'Shanghai Spirit.'
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent congratulatory messages, praising the forum's role in fostering mutual understanding. Japarov highlighted Kyrgyzstan's upcoming SCO presidency (2025–2026) as an opportunity to deepen ties with CMG, while Sharif stressed the importance of 'sincere dialogue' amid global complexities.
Media Initiatives and Youth Engagement Take Center Stage
SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev announced new cooperation agreements with CMG, urging media outlets across SCO countries to amplify stories of regional innovation. A joint CGTN-led program, 'China Up Close · A Journey of Harmony,' has already brought journalists from 42 countries to explore China's modernization efforts in provinces like Shandong and Shaanxi.
Youth participation also featured prominently, with three young representatives from SCO states sharing personal stories of cross-border collaboration. CMG and the SCO Secretariat further unveiled plans for a media initiative inviting young people to document cultural exchange narratives.
Leaders Emphasize Shared Responsibility
Shen Haixiong, President of CMG, underscored the SCO's role as a 'diverse landscape of civilizations,' calling for media to promote openness and cooperation. Russian media executive Oleg Dobrodeyev echoed this sentiment in a video address, emphasizing 'trust and equality' as pillars of SCO collaboration.
