SCO Culture Ministers’ meeting underway in Sanya

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02:33

‍Cultural delegations, experts and artists from the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have gathered in Sanya City of south China’s Hainan Province for the 15th meeting from Tuesday to Friday, ahead of the SCO Qingdao summit.

The Olympic Sailing Base in Qingdao, the host city of the SCO summit 2018 /VCG Photo

Besides the Culture Ministers’ Meeting, the cultural experts and artists of the SCO member states will also hold working team meetings as well as forums. The delegations will also visit several cultural zones in Sanya, including the Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park, the Luhuitou Park and the Betel Nut Valley featuring Miao ethnic group culture.

As a multilateral occasion for cultural cooperation and exchange, the meeting is expected to promote further development of the culture and tourism in Hainan Province.

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization jointly launched by six countries including China and Russia in 2001.

Russian students display boards with Chinese and Russian handwriting in Qingdao, the host city of the SCO summit 2018 /Xinhua Photo

So far, it has eight member states including China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, four observer states and six dialogue partners. The SCO accounts for over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass, nearly half of the world's population and over 20 percent of global GDP.

This year’s SCO summit will be held in east China’s Qingdao city next month.

(Top image: A light show test in Qingdao for the SCO summit 2018 /VCG Photo)