By Yan Yu
Young people are both major beneficiaries and vital drivers of cooperation among member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In recent years, leveraging the broad platform provided by the SCO, youth from member countries have actively engaged in cooperation, delivering fruitful outcomes in cultural exchanges, innovation and entrepreneurship, the digital economy, and distance education.
During the Global Mayors Dialogue — SCO Summit Cities in north China’s Tianjin municipality in early July, Zoon Ahmed Khan, a Pakistani researcher, shared the benefits she has gained through her involvement with the SCO.
Having participated in multiple events, including the SCO Youth Development Forum and the SCO Kunming International Marathon, she noted that the organization creates opportunities for young people to connect and understand each other, expressing hope that more young people from member states will seize the opportunities the region offers.
Thanks to various cooperation platforms, youth exchanges among SCO member countries have been steadily deepening, facilitating mutual understanding and injecting fresh momentum into SCO cooperation.
Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, noted that young people represent the organization’s future, and that people-to-people exchanges, especially among the younger generation, play a unique role in advancing cooperation among SCO member countries.
An increasing number of students from SCO member states are pursuing studies in China, expanding their horizons while becoming ambassadors of friendship and cooperation, Khan said.
The “SCO Youth, Encounter Qingdao” youth study tour was recently held in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province. The event brought together 100 international students from 30 countries, including Pakistan and Tajikistan. The participants explored China’s intangible cultural heritage, visited leading technology companies, and learned about the city’s development. They not only strengthened their understanding of China but also forged friendships through the immersive and interactive experiences.
In recent years, initiatives such as youth exchange camps, development forums, study programs, and innovation and entrepreneurship competitions have flourished under the SCO framework, sowing seeds of friendship and inspiring a growing number of young people to take part in SCO affairs.
Deng Hao, former secretary-general of the China Center for SCO Studies, pointed out that youth cooperation among SCO member states has made notable progress in four key areas.
Cooperation mechanisms have been built. Since its launch in 2009, the SCO Youth Council has served as a major platform for exchanges among youth organizations, holding annual meetings and regularly rolling out new cooperation projects.
Cooperation frameworks have been improved. In 2021, SCO member states adopted the Agreement on Cooperation in Youth Affairs, providing institutional and policy support to strengthen collaboration.
Influential and promising cooperation projects have been created. Eight sessions of the SCO Youth Camp have been held, drawing more than 1,200 outstanding young participants. The SCO International Youth Business Incubator project has advanced exchange among young entrepreneurs, selection and incubation of start-up projects, and training programs. The SCO Member States Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, which has been held four times, has boosted technology exchanges and the commercialization of innovations among SCO member countries.
New projects and new forms of cooperation have constantly emerged. The 2024 SCO Youth Development Forum unveiled the list of SCO Youth Exchange and Cooperation Projects for 2024-2025, featuring 18 projects in the fields of education, culture, sports, talent development, and others.
As a founding member, China has consistently placed great importance on and actively supported youth exchanges among member states. From the Joint Address of the heads of SCO for the Youth adopted at the SCO Qingdao summit in 2018, to the establishment of the China-SCO Youth Exchange Center, and the invitation of a large number of young people from SCO member countries to China for various events, China has always been committed to providing diverse platforms to strengthen youth exchanges among SCO member states.
The 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO is scheduled to take place in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. The grand event is eagerly anticipated by young people from SCO member states.
Batir Tursunov, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, has called for intensified efforts to organize youth activities in science and technology, education, sports, culture, tourism, and environmental protection, enabling young people to fully realize their potential.
