On May 24, 2026, during his official visit to India Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Nurlan Yermekbayev delivered an open lecture at Nalanda University in the state of Bihar, India.
Nurlan Yermekbayev spoke to the audience about the history and development of the SCO. He also introduced the upcoming events dedicated to the SCO’s 25th anniversary.
“Today, the SCO is not only a platform for political dialogue but also an important venue for the development of economic, scientific, educational, and humanitarian cooperation.”
Secretary-General highlighted the main outcomes of the Organisation’s summit held in Tianjin in September 2025 along with the priorities of the Kyrgyz Republic’s chairmanship under the motto “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity.”
“The outcomes of the Tianjin Summit demonstrated the SCO’s transition to a new quality — from a coordination platform to a full-fledged transregional institution capable of making a significant contribution to both global governance and practical cooperation.”
The Secretary-General provided information on the efforts of member states to advance the social agenda, including the expansion of scientific and educational exchanges. He emphasized the important role of the initiatives put forward by India in all the spheres of the Organisation’s activities.
Nurlan Yermekbayev stressed the need to engage the younger generation in the development of intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue across the SCO space. In this context, he noted the great potential of Nalanda University, which is a leading global center for Buddhist studies and also offers master’s and doctoral programs in modern disciplines such as sustainable development, artificial intelligence, and others.
During a lively exchange of views with the university’s faculty and students the Secretary-General answered their questions.
Nalanda University is one of the world’s oldest higher education institutions, founded in the 5th century. For 800 years, this university was a center for the development of scientific, philosophical, and spiritual thought. Today, the ruins of Nalanda stand on its site and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2010, Nalanda University was revived under the patronage of the Government of India and with the support of several countries.
Open lectures by the SCO Secretary-General and Deputy Secretaries-General are held in various countries and organizations in accordance with the Secretariat’s Work Plan to celebrate the SCO’s 25th anniversary and are dedicated to this landmark date.
