On 22 May, 2017, more than 50 students and attendees from the Renmin University of China visited the SCO headquarters during its open day.
The visit by young representatives was arranged under an agreement reached at a meeting between SCO Secretary-General and university students on 7 December 2016.
Students from the Renmin University of China were given a tour of the building of the SCO's main administrative body during which young people visited the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Charter Marble Hall, halls of the SCO capitals, and were able to take a look at the symbols of the headquarters, the Shanghai Spirit sculpture, the SCO Stone, the SCO Tree, and also experienced walking along the SCO Lane and visited the Winter Garden.
During a lively and informal talk, SCO Secretary-General spoke about the history of the Organisation, about its development and diverse interaction, and the upcoming SCO summit in Astana. The audience was particularly interested in hearing about the SCO University, a one-of-a-kind institution that functions as a network of ‘SCO family' universities in the member states. Rashid Alimov also answered many questions from guests on youth exchanges, cooperation in education and tourism, and cooperation in trade and the economy.
The multinational group included representatives of 18 SCO member states as well as Liberia, Algeria and Bangladesh. The students and attendees enjoyed the visit to the SCO Secretariat.
Open days take place at the SCO Secretariat on a regular basis. Their aim is to introduce representatives of the civil society, including the younger generation, to SCO activities and the practical work of the Organisation's Secretariat.
The Renmin University of China is one of the leading universities in China. Founded in 1950, it is one of the youngest and fastest developing law and humanities universities in the country. The university has a faculty of over 2,000, including 400 professors. The student community brings together some 30,000 young people, including over 1,000 international students from 50 countries (all SCO member states included).