On 19 April 2023, the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation hosted the seventh round of the 2023 SCO Model interactive game with students from the secondary school of the Russian Embassy in China. The students simulated a meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators, starting from approving the agenda to coordinating the Joint Statement and signing the final Protocol. The game was played in Russian and Chinese, as well as in English and several member states’ national languages with translation into SCO official languages. The topic of the current round was the discussion and development of measures to improve information support for SCO activities.
In his opening remarks, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming noted that such events help deepen the younger generation’s understanding of the essence of political and diplomatic work and the practice of conducting multilateral talks, promote the importance of the ability to find a common language and reach agreement even in the most difficult situations.
The game was attended by Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov, who made a speech, permanent representatives of the SCO member states at the Secretariat, diplomats from SCO missions, and Secretariat officials.
Following the game, the teaching staff of the Russian Embassy’s school received gratitude from the SCO Secretariat, and the students received the Secretariat’s diplomas for organising and participating in the SCO Model.
The SCO Model project is carried out in line with the implementation of the goal to consistently increase the profile of youth policy on the SCO agenda, as stated in the Joint Appeal to the Youth adopted by the heads of the SCO member states summit in Qingdao in June 2018, and in the Dushanbe Declaration on the 20th Anniversary of the SCO, adopted at the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council in September 2021. It is an educational interactive game that imitates the work of SCO bodies and mechanisms and is held among students from secondary and higher educational institutions in the SCO countries. The game gives participants an opportunity to study international relations and multilateral diplomacy, improve communication and writing skills, as well as the methodology of negotiation and discussion. One of the main goals of the SCO Model is to encourage the interest of young people in SCO activities.