For 10 days between 17 and 26 July 2018, the St Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON) hosted the first summer school of the SCO Countries Youth League. Youth league members from the SCO member states, observer- countries and dialogue partners, including Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Afghanistan and Mongolia, participated in a programme aimed at honing leadership skills.
The main subjects on the school's course were A New Breed of Leaders and The SCO, A Territory of Trust. The programme comprised lectures on the economy and leadership skills, business workshops, a visit to St Petersburg's legislature and also tours to cultural landmarks in St Petersburg. The young leaders also met with the leading experts in international politics, winners of the Leaders of Russia national management competition, the academic staff and young researchers from the St Petersburg State University of Economics, as well as experts and business coaches.
On the final day of the event, the young leaders divided into three teams presented the projects they had been working on in St Petersburg to help improve the situation in the spheres of social development, education, the economy and enterprise, as well as culture and cross-cultural communications in SCO countries.
The SCO, A Territory of Trust Summer School was organised at the initiative of the Centre for the Study of China and the Asia-Pacific Region at the St Petersburg State University of Economics, which is actively involved in the SCO's humanitarian projects. The SCO Secretariat and the SCO Countries Youth League supported the initiative.