On 22 May 2024, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming met with Sergei Kovalchuk, Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, on the sidelines of the meeting of heads of ministries and agencies responsible for the development of physical fitness and sports in the SCO member states.
The parties exchanged views on the current situation and prospects of cooperation in sports and tourism within the SCO space. Both officials emphasised the commitment of the member states to promoting the implementation of initiatives in this area.
Zhang Ming expressed his appreciation for Minsk’s comprehensive support and involvement in developing SCO contacts. He also expressed hope that the Republic of Belarus would officially become an SCO member state at the Astana summit in July. Zhang Ming expressed confidence that Belarus’s membership would give a new impetus to its interaction with the SCO countries in the field of sports and physical fitness.