On Sunday, July 6, 2025 in Qingdao, on the eve of the 22nd Meeting of Ministers of Culture and the Meeting of Heads of Tourism Administrations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member States, SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev met with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, Sun Yeli.
The Secretary General thanked China for the work on the preparation of the ministerial meetings in the field of culture and tourism. He noted that the Chinese presidency, under the motto "Promoting the Shanghai Spirit: the SCO in Action," actively fills the Organization's humanitarian agenda.
The city of Qingdao plays an important role in the SCO's activities: the Organization's Summit was held here in 2018, a demo zone operates, and meetings of the Organization's mechanisms are regularly held. During the Chinese presidency, the city has been honored with the title of the "Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO."
Sun Yueli noted the invariably important role of the SCO Secretariat in coordinating and supporting the activities of the member states in all areas of cooperation, including cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The parties discussed ways to develop cultural and humanitarian cooperation in the SCO, increase the practical effectiveness of various activities, including through the implementation of joint projects.
The meeting was held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.