2023 Media and Think Tank Forum for SCO Countries held in Qingdao
The 2023 Media and Think Tank Forum for SCO Countries was held in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province, on Friday. The event was jointly hosted by the Center for Europe and Asia under China International Communications Group (CICG) and the administrative committee of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, under the guidance of CICG and the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
At the forum, participants from the political, academic, and media scenes of SCO countries provided insights and reached broad consensus on various topics, such as deepening connectivity, jointly pushing forward the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, upholding multilateralism to promote a fairer and more equitable international order, and upholding openness and inclusiveness to promote cultural inheritance and development as well as exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.
The 2023 Media and Think Tank Forum for SCO Countries takes place in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province, on July 28, 2023. [Photo/CICG]
Gao Anming, vice president of CICG, addressed the event. He said that it is necessary to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit in order to promote greater development of the SCO.
The Shanghai Spirit, as the set of values that underpins the SCO, advocates mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development.
Gao also reiterated the need to pool cooperation forces, uphold the vision of a shared future, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and seek new cooperation to consolidate the future of the SCO.
Gao also said CICG will continue to deepen cooperation with media outlets, think tanks, and cultural organizations of other SCO countries, and make good use of the forum to raise the voice, tell good stories, and disseminate the experience of SCO countries, so as to further improve the well-being of the people of SCO countries and build an even closer SCO community with a shared future.
Gao Anming, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), addresses the 2023 Media and Think Tank Forum for SCO Countries in Qingdao, Shandong province, on July 28, 2023. [Photo/CICG]
The SCO Countries Cultural Exchange and Cooperation Center is unveiled in Qingdao, Shandong province, on July 28, 2023. [Photo/CICG]
Participants exchange insights at the 2023 Media and Think Tank Forum for SCO Countries in Qingdao, Shandong province, on July 28, 2023. [Photo/CICG]
A framework agreement on strengthening media cooperation among SCO countries is signed in Qingdao, Shandong province, on July 28, 2023. [Photo/CICG]
In addition, forum organizers, media from SCO countries, and SCO-related organizations jointly signed a framework agreement on strengthening media cooperation. An exhibition of China-themed books was also held during the forum to present over 1,000 books published by CICG.
The forum, in its fourth year since its launch in 2020, has brought together diplomats, experts, scholars, and media professionals from SCO member states for extensive and in-depth discussions on a range of topics. The forum has become an influential platform for exchange under the SCO framework.