English
Русский
Sustainable development, twin cities, activation of public diplomacy institutions, festivals for youth, exchange of experts at business forums - these are just some of the areas of cooperation between the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly and the SCO Chinese Committee for Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation (CCGFC). Delegations of the two organizations met within the Ugra Economic Forum.
The delegation from China took part in the International Public Diplomacy Forum ‘Everyone's Responsibility for a Shared Future’. Cui Li, Deputy Chairman of the Chinese SCO Committee on Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, spoke at the plenary session of the Forum and noted that the Assembly and the Committee have many points of contact. Both organizations aim at long-term good-neighbourly cooperation on issues of science, culture, education, business and youth.
Her point was continued and supported by concrete examples by Zheng Wei, Secretary General of the Chinese SCO Committee on Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, at the expert session ‘Public Diplomacy. New Mechanisms for Building a Joint Future’. She recalled that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been making efforts to build friendly ties between all countries of the world for 23 years.
“It is impossible not to note that today we exist in a state of constant instability and uncertainty. While relations between states and peoples should be built on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, respect for diverse civilizations and aspiration for common development. After all, only constructive co-operation helps to combat challenges and dangers,” she said.
Zheng Wei noted the potential for co-operation in different areas: academic and scientific, cultural and health care, development of digital products and agricultural safety.
“But deeds speak better than any words about trust and partnership,” said Madam Secretary General, and this phrase was repeatedly quoted at the Forum.
There was also a business meeting between members of the Chinese delegation and representatives of the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly. On the part of the Assembly, the meeting was attended by Secretary General of the Assembly Andrey Belianinov, Chairperson of the General Council of the Assembly Svetlana Smirnova, Chief of Staff of the Secretary General Pavel Bezdenezhnykh and Deputy Executive Director - Chief of Staff of the Chairperson of the General Council Olga Nefedova. They spoke about the Assembly's key projects, prospects and plans for the coming year.
During the meeting, they discussed the need for cultural events that could become a platform for both creative exchange and public diplomacy, as the rapprochement of cultures helps build ties between states. Examples of such projects could be the festival of throat singing together with Kazakhstan, film festivals, SCO sports games and so on. One of the topics touched upon during the meeting was the promotion of sustainable development.
They also discussed the work of the SCO network of representative offices in various regions of Russia and China and the possibilities of coordinating their activities. One of the joint events could be the Public Diplomats Forum in 2027.
CCGFC representatives invited Andrey Bellyaninov, Secretary General of the Eurasia and Africa Peoples’ Assembly, and other representatives of the organization to take part in the SCO People's Diplomacy Forum and the Forum of Sister Cities to be held in China in July 2025.
Discussing the topic of sister cities, the participants of the meeting concluded that the cities of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra can become such cities. China has cities related to oil production, and Surgut, Khanty-Mansiysk and Nizhnevartovsk are interested in the inflow of intellectual resources, in the development of new research and business projects.
The communication showed that all public institutions in Russia and China - business, universities, mass media, and cultural organizations - are focused on partnership.
