On 13 May 2021, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov attended a reception on the occasion of Ramadan Khayit (Eid al-Fitr) held at Beijing's Xinjiang Dasha Hotel.
Attending the grand gathering were the PRC Government's Special Representative for Eurasia Li Hui, member of the CPC Permanent District Committee of the XUAR and Secretary of the CPC City Committee in Urumqi Xu Hairong, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran, Syria, Bahrain, Algeria, Palestine, Chad, Sierra Leone, Mali, Jordan and Bangladesh, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the PRC Foreign Ministry, central government authorities and those of the PRC XUAR, as well as members of the Chinese and foreign media. A total of 120 people.
Speaking at the start of the event, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov congratulated all those present on the holy festival of Ramadan Khayit-Uraza Bayram.
He noted that Eid al-Fitr was a long-awaited holy day, when Muslims all over the world congratulate each other on the culmination of the blessed month of Ramadan. This day is a celebration of love, forgiveness, and friendship as well as of mutual respect and understanding.
He stressed that the celebration of Uraza Bayram has been promoting the values of peace and solidarity between generations, as well as reconciliation and good-neighbourliness. It has also been strengthening peace and mutual understanding between peoples and countries.
"The constructive and unifying spirit of Eid al-Fitr is highly consonant with the Shanghai Spirit that embodies unity and consolidation, as well as vital strength for mutually beneficial development and the attainment of peace and prosperity. These high qualities have been displayed by our countries as we battled to overcome the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," Vladimir Norov added.
Speaking at the event were also Chairman of the Xinjiang Islam Association Abdurajib Tumurniyaz, Imam of the Yanghang Mosque in Urumqi Mukhtaram Sherip, Imam of the Eid Gah Mosque in Kashgar Mamat Zuma, and Deputy Chairman of the Xinjiang Islam Association Bai Shengfu, who informed those present about the socio-economic developments in XUAR and its cities, as well as the situation to do with the Muslims in the region.
Videos were also shown on how the local inhabitants fast during the holy month of Ramadan, celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Urumqi, Yingying, Aksu, Kashgar, and Huotang, and enjoy their everyday lifestyles in XUAR.
