On November 11, 2026, an international seminar titled "Deepening Partnerships and Innovation for Poverty Reduction" was held in Beijing. It was organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the China Internet Information Center. About 150 delegates took part, including representatives of the countries of the Global Partnership for Poverty Reduction and Development (GPPAD), international organizations, think tanks, the private sector, and the media.
The discussions focused on the exchange of experience and innovations in applying poverty reduction models during the transition period and in the long-term governance of this field after 2030.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohail Khan noted the high relevance of joint efforts to combat poverty worldwide and stressed the need to keep these goals at the center of the international agenda.
The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the experience of SCO member states in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the SCO Development Strategy, focused on cooperation in the development of rural and remote areas, and informed participants about the work of the relevant SCO mechanisms in the area of poverty reduction, including meetings of heads of ministries and agencies and the special working group on poverty reduction.
The following proposals were put forward: strengthening ties between regional organizations and global institutions; investing in the education of women and young people; supporting innovation and entrepreneurship; strengthening South-South cooperation; and supporting joint pilot projects of the Organization's member states.
The commitment of the SCO countries to expanding cooperation within the framework of GPPAD was reaffirmed.
On the sidelines of the seminar, S. Khan gave interviews to several media outlets, including the CGTN television channel.