As the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit approaches, Tianjin prepares to host a unique culinary celebration showcasing how a simple dish – the pancake – unites diverse cultures. The SCO Pancake Festival highlights food diplomacy through stories like that of Elena Koneva, a Russian resident whose family recipe embodies generations of tradition.
Koneva’s pancakes, made with milk, eggs, and flour, reflect Russia’s culinary identity. "Every family has its own version," she explains, noting their presence at celebrations from weddings to Maslenitsa festivals. A popular Russian proverb – "The first pancake is always a failure" – underscores the dish’s role in fostering perseverance and shared joy.
Pancakes hold symbolic significance across SCO member states, adapting to local ingredients and customs. In Russia, they serve as both daily sustenance and ceremonial centerpieces, often paired with tea in gestures of warmth. The festival’s focus on this universal food mirrors the SCO’s emphasis on cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
As global audiences anticipate the Tianjin summit, the pancake emerges as a metaphor for diplomacy – adaptable, nourishing, and best shared with others.
