On 28 March 2018, SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov held a meeting with Mongolian academics and government experts at Mongolian State University as part of his official visit to Ulaanbaatar.
He told his audience about the SCO's activities, political and security priorities, and trade, economic and cultural cooperation. "The SCO today is more than an example of opportunities for the coexistence of states that differ in size, influence and state system and belong to different cultural and national traditions. It creates favourable conditions for combining targeted and value attitudes, establishing and promoting a productive dialogue between civilisations, and shaping a culture of intercourse aimed at obtaining a joint and mutually beneficial result," he stressed.
According to Mr Alimov, "the SCO is due to help sovereign members to coordinate positions and approaches to current international problems and regional objectives, and focus on common goals in keeping with the principles of voluntary and equitable cooperation. This specific feature of the SCO, along with its clearly expressed democratic operational principles, makes it a focal point of growing close interest in the international community, as is evidenced by the growing number of states eager to join the organisation."
He also took numerous questions from the audience.
The meeting was attended by over 150 people and lasted for nearly two hours.