SCO generation learns consensus principle: Traditional SCO Model held in Beijing

On 27 April 2018, the SCO Headquarters in Beijing hosted the SCO Model annual interactive cognitive game that involved high school students from the SCO member-states, who are enrolled in the Russian embassy school in China. They modelled the activities of the SCO Council of National Coordinators. The third game was devoted to the most important event of the SCO year: the SCO Summit in Qingdao.

"The SCO Model has become a tradition, and I'm happy with it. We can see from this what great replacements our countries' diplomats are developing in the ‘Shanghai spirit,'" SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said when welcoming the participants. "We are living during a period of drastic change in international relations. The difficult and sometimes painful process to form a multipolar world is ongoing now. The SCO member states are carrying out a balanced and reasonable political course under these conditions. You, the SCO generation, will have to live in this emerging world," Mr Alimov pointed out.

The SCO Secretary-General believes that the SCO generation are young people who respect each other; who hear and listen to each other; who know the culture and history of the SCO family's peoples well; who cooperate for the future; and who support and develop truly friendly relations. He hoped for each participant to fulfil their dreams.

"The SCO is a unique, young organisation with enormous development potential. Common interests and principles are the base of our cooperation in the SCO. Today's event demonstrates the young generation's interest in the SCO's activities, their need to learn and understand how it works," noted Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China Andrei Denisov.

Yulia Temeledi, who played the role of chair, noted excitedly: "My classmate and I, we represented the People's Republic of China at this meeting. During the simulation, I felt like a diplomat for the first time, and of course I was protecting China's interests on the global stage. We have been preparing for this event for almost a month trying to speak honestly and also learn how the organisation works and what agenda diplomats deal with at a meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators. It was really interesting and useful; we felt like adults making SCO-related decisions. For me, it was a double pleasure, because I speak two official SCO languages, Russian and Chinese."

Maxim Zinovyev, a student from the Russian Federation, said: "I was excited to take part in the SCO Model. For me, it was a chance to get to know the activities of this reputable international organisation. The SCO unites eight countries and perhaps is second only to the UN in population, territory and authority on the global stage. In today's simulation, Polina Lukyantseva and I represented the Russian Federation. We discussed economic and humanitarian issues, in particular, cooperation development between the SCO states in energy with interesting proposals on the matter."

SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov and Ambassador Andrei Denisov awarded certificates and souvenirs to the students.

On the eve of the SCO Model interactive cognitive game, SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov met with Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China Andrei Denisov.