As the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) prepares for its landmark 2025 summit in Tianjin, the world's eyes turn to a gathering that transcends traditional geopolitics. With over 20 member states and dialogue partners attending, the event promises to amplify Eurasia's role in shaping a multipolar world through cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Moderated by CGTN's Liu Xin and PTV World's Omar Khalid Butt, a recent panel featuring seven Eurasian thought leaders revealed surprising synergies. A Kazakh educator shared how SCO-funded student exchanges are creating trilingual professionals fluent in Russian, Mandarin, and English. Meanwhile, a Pakistani tourism official highlighted a 300% increase in cross-border cultural tours since 2022.
The summit's 'People-to-People Exchange Year' initiative takes center stage, with plans for:
A digital museum showcasing Silk Road heritage
Regional youth innovation challenges
Joint culinary diplomacy programs
Liu Xin noted: "When young people from Samarkand and Shanghai collaborate on AI projects, they're writing tomorrow's economic playbook." Omar Khalid Butt added that shared cultural references are becoming the "unofficial currency" of Eurasian business deals.
With India recently proposing a SCO startup corridor and Iran finalizing membership protocols, the Tianjin summit emerges as a critical juncture for global south cooperation. As borders become bridges, the SCO's evolution from security-focused bloc to cultural-economic nexus offers fresh opportunities for investors and communities alike.
