The 2022 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summer -China –SCO Youth Gala Week kicked off in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday.

The activity aims to carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit" of "mutual trust, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development," and enhance understanding and friendship among the people of the SCO countries, especially among the youth, and strengthen exchanges and interactions.

On the same day, "My Homeland – SCO Youth International Photography Exhibition" was launched as one of the important activities of the week.

The exhibition activities in the support from the international federation of photography art, through the collection of more than three months, received more than 1,800 works of over 200 young photographers and the famous master photographers from eight SCO member states, four observer and nine dialogue partner countries.

One hundred and thirty classic works were picked out for display. Through the four themes of "Our Homes," "Our Faces," "Our Lives,"and "Our Growth," the exhibition shows the social development, people's lives, customs and natural landscapes of all ethnic groups in SCO countries, captured by photographers with different perspectives.

The event lasts for 10 days. It mainly includes the launching ceremony of the Gala Week, the Photography Exhibition, the Performing Arts Forum, and the SCO National Media Think Tank Forum.