Current Chair of the SCO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Chingiz Aidarbekov sent a message of greetings to the SCO Youth Assembly, in which he emphasised the important role young people play in the development of society and their country. The importance of youth was noted by the SCO Heads of State during their first meeting in the eight-country format in the picturesque Chinese city of Qingdao last June.
The message that was read at the opening ceremony for the assembly says that the Joint Appeal to Youth adopted at the Qingdao summit is a comprehensive document that lays down policy objectives.
"Your attendance of this event is proof that the SCO leaders' appeal has been heeded by our young people, whose best representatives have convened here to discuss their contribution to the development of their countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation," said Chingiz Aidarbekov, adding that he expected participants at the assembly to have an instructive, interesting and productive exchange of opinions on various subjects. "Including, I hope, a caring attitude to the fundamental moral values of each of the SCO family of nations," the minister said.
"Spiritual education and moral integrity are above all important for our unity and joint efforts to tackle modern challenges, as well as for our consistent development," Chingiz Aidarbekov wrote in his message. The minister also pointed out that participation in the meeting offered a unique opportunity to establish personal contact between the representatives of youth organisations and called on participants to "promote the implementation of positive ideas in your countries based on the results of discussions you will hold at the assembly."
The city of Dongfang on Hainan Island, China, is hosting the SCO Youth Assembly on 8-12 November 2018.
The proposal to hold the assembly, entitled SCO Youth Against Terrorism and Extremism, was supported by the SCO Council of Heads of Government in the Joint Communique adopted at their 17th meeting in Dushanbe on 11-12 October 2018.