On 20 March 2017, the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation together with embassies of SCO member states hosted a reception in Beijing to mark the International Day of Nowruz.
In his speech at the reception, SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said: "Nowruz is the most important event of the year for one in every twenty five people on Earth, serving as an indissoluble link between generations. All SCO member states mark the celebration heralding the advent of spring with the greatest solemnity and emotion. Nowruz is an event with deep historical roots, but at the same time also busting with young energy. It was listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Nowruz is the triumph of reason and a call to unity, friendship among people and nations, good neighbourly relations and cooperation in the name of peace and prosperity. The peaceful and creative spirit of Nowruz is in tune with the Shanghai spirit and values enshrined in the SCO Charter."
"Nowruz marks the beginning of a New Year, growth and florescence, it symbolises the vernal equinox and renewal. It has become a tradition for the SCO family to come together to celebrate Nowruz. This is not surprising, since 12 out of 18 SCO countries celebrate this festivity. Nowruz is very much in tune with the Shanghai spirit when it comes to its meaning and significance, bringing good will and prosperity, accord and harmony. There are exactly 80 days left before the Astana Summit. I'm confident that the Summit in Kazakhstan will further strengthen the SCO, consolidate its international standing, and help expand mutually beneficial cooperation." This is what the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People's Republic of China Shakhrat Nuryshev said.
The reception featured a show displaying national costumes with traditional dresses from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, courtesy of prominent designers, including GiGu collection by Gulchehra Yunusova (Uzbekistan), head of ChapanSar Art Studio Zhumagul Sarieva (Kyrgyzstan), Anna Zakharkina (Russia), and M-STILE Fashion House Head Mavluda Khamraeva (Tajikistan).
Traditional spring food and other dishes popular in SCO countries were served during the reception, prepared by the embassies of SCO members states to China.
The concert during the reception was performed by a Russian children's team and Chinese Wushu athletes, students from Turkmenistan who performed Kusht Depdi national dance, a lion dance by Chinese dancers, a performance by a folk band from Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as well as by young singer Aray Aydarhan, who took part and won a number of international contests.
Li Huilai, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, was the guest of honour at the reception.
Nowruz is celebrated across the world, from the Balkans in Europe to western China.
It marks the beginning of spring. It is believed that on this day nature wakes up and starts to change. Nowruz symbolises the awakening of nature, the triumph of life, and hopes of a plentiful harvest. Nowruz promotes hospitality, good will and generosity, the triumph of light over darkness, warmth over the cold and makes the love of life even stronger.
On 23 February 2010, the UN General Assembly recognised the International Day of Nowruz, celebrated on 21 March every year. In September 2009, Nowruz was included on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List.