Qingdao, 16 June, 2023 (GNP): In order to implement the important initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the China Shanghai Cooperation Organization Good Neighborhood Friendship and Cooperation Committee, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the People’s Government of Shandong Province jointly held the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Non-governmental Friendship Forum and Sister City Forum in Qingdao, China on June 15, 2023 , representatives from member states, observer states and dialogue partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with the theme of “Promoting the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ and Promoting Friendship and Cooperation”, focused on issues such as non-governmental friendship, cooperation between sister cities, technological innovation, educational exchanges, and poverty alleviation Conduct in-depth discussions and reach broad consensus.
The forum agreed that the SCO countries have always upheld the “Shanghai Spirit”, advocated civilized dialogue, sought common ground while reserving differences, and insisted on achieving common development under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. The booster of integrated development has built a bridge of friendship for the tolerance and mutual learning of multiple civilizations.
The forum believes that people-to-people diplomacy and city-to-city diplomacy have unique advantages in gathering SCO people’s strength, fostering people-to-people friendship, enhancing people-to-people bonds, promoting city linkages, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, and building a closer SCO community with a shared future. great effect.
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In order to consolidate the results of the forum, the forum proposes the following five proposals:
One is to strengthen people-to-people exchanges. Support the continuation of the SCO Non-governmental Friendship Forum, Traditional Medicine Forum, Women’s Forum, etc., and take this opportunity to further strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation among non-governmental friendship institutions in SCO countries, and actively promote the non-governmental friendship of the SCO. develop.
The second is to strengthen cooperation between sister cities. Promote friendly exchanges between local governments of SCO countries and establish more sister provinces and cities, continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation between sister cities in various fields such as economy and trade, science and technology, humanities, youth, etc., to achieve precise docking and sustainable development of sister city cooperation, sharing development results, and further enhance the people’s sense of gain, happiness and identity.
The third is to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation. Relying on the platform of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone, actively promote the construction of a data exchange and information sharing hub that includes governments, enterprises, industrial parks, business associations and other diversified entities, promote the linkage of local and private economic development in various countries, and transform the potential of complementary advantages for economic growth. We welcome the China-SCO Technology Transfer Center to carry out exchanges between local governments, cooperation between institutions and reciprocity between enterprises under the multilateral framework, regularly hold scientific and technological innovation activities such as the “Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition of the SCO Member States”, and build the SCO Inter-country scientific and technological innovation collaboration network.
The fourth is to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Hold the SCO National Children’s Art Exhibition, Youth Summer Camp, and Youth Sports and Culture Festival. Continue to hold the “Lifeline Express International Bright Journey” activities well, give full play to the role of mechanisms such as the SCO hospital cooperation alliance, telemedicine platform, and pharmaceutical cooperation and development conference to improve people’s health and well-being. Encourage universities, middle schools and primary schools to establish international friendly school relations, support colleges and universities to strengthen joint training in mathematics, surveying and mapping, mining and other fields, support schools at all levels and educational institutions to carry out normal exchanges, and jointly build a “Chinese and foreign cultural air corridor”.
Through the organization of SCO national international marathon, chess team competition, “Far East Cup” international sailing rally and other humanities exchange activities, it will help mutual understanding, enhance people-to-people bonds, and build a solid foundation of public opinion for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The fifth is to strengthen the exchange and cooperation of poverty reduction and development experience. Support the development of poverty alleviation training courses, share poverty reduction and poverty alleviation experience and rural revitalization practices, provide new ideas and beneficial mutual learning for the development of poverty reduction and economic and social construction in SCO countries, and help SCO countries explore their own poverty reduction and rural development modernization ways and measures to enhance poverty reduction capacity and sustainable development momentum.
The forum called on all parties to further carry forward the “Shanghai Spirit”, continuously deepen the friendship and mutual trust between sister cities, continue to promote local mutually beneficial cooperation, promote the stable and long-term development of the SCO, and jointly build a peaceful, stable, prosperous and beautiful SCO family. Create a better future for Eurasia.
