WHU Jointly Host the Think Tank Sub-forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on People-to-people Friendship

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on People-to-people Friendship was held in Wuhan from June 2 to 4, 2021. Entrusted by the organizer of the forum, the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies of Wuhan University and the Institute of Russian, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences jointly hosted the think tank sub-forum with the theme of "Building a Community of Cultural Exchanges for New Drivers of Development".

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on People-to-people Friendship on the 3rd, hoping that all parties would uphold the "Shanghai Spirit", stick to their original aspirations, help each other, deepen cooperation, give full play to the advantages of people-to-people diplomacy, broaden the channels of communication between peoples of all countries, and make positive contributions to the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Cui Li, Vice Chairman of the Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation Committee of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Xiao Juhua, Vice Governor of Hubei Province, Wang Linggui, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Han Jin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Wuhan University, addressed the think tank sub-forum.

In his speech, Han Jin stated that universities are an important bridge and an important force for promoting the development of a community of cultural exchanges by nurturing academics, nurturing young people, and communicating with the distant world. Universities and scientific research institutions should give full play to their advantages, assume the responsibility of cultural exchanges, cultivate a new generation of friendship messengers, and pass on the spirit from generation to generation. We are willing to walk hand in hand with our friends to promote the sustainable development of the SCO and the establishment of a community of cultural exchanges.

The think tank sub-forums was held from the 2nd to the 3rd in the form of online and offline meeting. Representatives from the Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation Committee of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, China-Russia Friendship Association, Chinese Central Asia Friendship Association, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretariat, China Institute of International Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Development Research Center of the State Council, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Cooperation, Peking University, Fudan University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Capital University of Economics and Business, Northwest University, Shaanxi Normal University, Sichuan University, Shanghai University and other institutions attended the meeting. And representatives from the member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan attended the meeting online.

Participants conducted discussions and exchanges around such topics like the SCO’s practice of the "Shanghai Spirit" and participation in regional governance, promotion of cultural exchanges and mutual learning, strengthening of integration and pragmatic cooperation, and promotion the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The delegates pointed out that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should continue to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and play a greater role in consolidating the social foundation for good-neighborly and friendly cooperation.