On 12 July 2024, the Culture Ministers of the member states of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) met to discuss prospects for cooperation. The meeting occurred at the XXXIII International Art Festival- Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk, Belarus. Mr. Adil Karimli, the Azerbaijan Culture Minister, addressed the gathering. He congratulated Belarus for its recent full membership in SCO.
Minister Adil reminded the audience about how the 2016 MoU between Azerbaijan and the SCO held potential for cultural development within the framework of the SCO. He also noted that the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the SCO summit held on 4 July 2024 in Astana was further proof of Azerbaijan’s intention to strengthen cooperation with the SCO. Minister Adil noted that Azerbaijan appreciates its role as a dialogue partner in the SCO and will strive to enhance cooperation in the various fields of culture, education, science, etc. He stressed the potential of SCO to strengthen collaboration and aid sustainable development. Minister Adil remarked that the Cultural Days of Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan were organised in Azerbaijan. Conversely, the Cultural Day of Azerbaijan was organised in Uzbekistan this year.
Minister Adil announced that the 29th session of the ‘Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’- COP29 will be held in Azerbaijan in November 2024. This session will also have a cultural agenda and host a meeting of the ministers of culture of the participating nations. This meeting will be an essential platform to discuss the negative consequences of climate change on cultural heritage.
The celebration of the Days of Cultures began with a concert “Together with the SCO for the Sake of Peace and Creativity.” Delegations of all the member countries, including the SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, participated in the event held in Vitebsk’s Victory Square.
This is a singular event held by the Belarusian Ministry of Culture after its full membership in SCO as a Member State. The Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrushenko, heads of the SCO Family’s specialised departments and ministries, and ambassadors of SCO countries participated in the event.
In his address, SCO Secretary-General Ming noted that hosting events like Slavyansky Bazaar and the Day of National Cultures of SCO countries promotes international cultural exchanges and facilitates cultural and humanitarian cooperation. He hoped that Belarus would continue encouraging intra-SCO cultural diplomacy. Following the event, the Secretary-General and heads of delegations visited the SCO member states’ handicraft exhibition.
The SCO was founded in 2001. It focused on regional security issues, the fight against regional terrorism, religious extremism, and ethnic separatism. It also focuses on regional development. Since 2005, the SCO has been an observer in the UN General Assembly. Its members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, and Belarus. Several countries hold dialogue partner and observer statuses in the SCO. Azerbaijan took up an active role in the SCO in 2016.