On 2-4 June 2021, Wuhan (Hubei province) was the venue of the SCO People's Diplomacy Forum marking the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The event was organised by China's SCO Committee on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Hubei, with the support of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The forum was attended by a delegation of the SCO Secretariat headed by Secretary-General Vladimir Norov, ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of the SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners.
A research conference held as part of the forum brought together prominent researchers, political scientists and experts from China and SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners.
Those taking part had intense and highly engaging discussions across the five themed sections of the forum: Quality Cooperation in Commerce and Trade, Building an Informed Society, Consolidating an Additional Development Factor, Sister Cities, Healthcare, Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. Vladimir Norov addressed and took part in the first two of these sections.
During the afternoon hours, the delegation heads and ambassadors met with Ying Yong, Secretary of the CPC Provincial Committee of Hubei and Chairman of the Hubei Provincial People's Congress. He noted that it was the SCO member states that were among the first countries to offer moral support to the city and the province in their fight against the pandemic.
On the morning of 3 June, during his visit to Wuhan, Vladimir Norov met with Shen Yueyue, Vice Chairperson of the 12th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Chairperson of the All-China Women's Federation and Chairperson of China's SCO Committee on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation. Later that day, the SCO Secretary-General spoke at the opening ceremony of the SCO People's Diplomacy Forum.
During his address, Vladimir Norov thanked the organising committee of the SCO People's Diplomacy Forum and the administration of the Hubei province for organising the ceremonial event in the run-up to the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
As part of the Wuhan city tour, forum participants visited the driverless vehicle demonstration area and the Yellow Crane Tower, one of the Four Great Towers of Ancient China.
They also took a boat trip down the Yangtze River.