SCO summit in Henan promotes common prosperity

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Media and Think Tank Summit, being held from Wednesday to Sunday in Zhengzhou, Henan province, aims to strengthen dialogue, exchange experiences and contribute to the common prosperity and development of the Eurasian region.

Themed "Upholding the 'Shanghai Spirit' to Build a More Beautiful Home", the summit, cohosted by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Henan provincial government, has attracted more than 400 representatives from media outlets, think tanks and governments of 26 SCO countries, as well as international and regional organizations. The "Shanghai Spirit" is characterized by mutual trust and benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development.

Mo Gaoyi, director of the State Council Information Office, in his address during the plenary session of the summit on Friday, said that the "Shanghai Spirit" is a common value guideline for the SCO member states.

"Since its establishment 24 years ago, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has always been guided by the 'Shanghai Spirit'. Political mutual trust among member states has continued to deepen, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results," said Mo. "It has blazed a fruitful path of peaceful development and set a model for a new type of international relations."

He said that cooperation between think tanks and media is an important part of the cooperation among the SCO countries and plays a significant role in communicating public opinion, guiding public sentiment and serving decision-making.

"I hope the media and think tanks will join hands and work together to actively carry forward the 'Shanghai Spirit' and promote the steady and long-term development of the SCO," he added.

Liu Ning, secretary of the Communist Party of China Henan Provincial Committee, said emerging markets such as the Middle East and Central Asia are increasingly becoming an investment paradise for Henan enterprises, and a number of overseas cooperation projects are proceeding smoothly.

He added that Henan has established sister city relations with 17 cities from SCO countries, created a number of cultural exchange brands and high-quality cultural dissemination works, and held cultural exchange activities that have been widely praised.

"Taking this summit as an opportunity, we will further enhance friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with the SCO countries in various fields, give full play to the advantage of Henan's profound historical and cultural heritage, continuously carry out activities such as youth exchanges, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions and artistic performances, and constantly tighten the bonds of people-to-people and cultural exchanges," he said.

Afaq Rafi Awan, a Pakistani international student in Zhengzhou University, said: "As a civil engineering student, I had the opportunity to visit the China Railway Engineering Group in Zhengzhou. Through this visit, I gained practical knowledge of tunneling technology and discussed with on-site professionals, which enriched my academic learning. With growing infrastructure needs in Pakistan, such technologies could play a major role in shaping future development."

Besides, a new report by the Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency, highlights China's pioneering efforts in preserving cultural heritage.

Released on Friday, the report showcases China's extensive conservation achievements, including the registration of over 760,000 immovable heritage sites, 108 million State-owned movable cultural relics, and nearly 870,000 intangible cultural heritage resources.

The study emphasizes that Chinese civilization has long valued mutual understanding and respect among diverse cultures. With a strong commitment to global cooperation, China actively participates in cultural heritage governance, promoting responsible stewardship of humanity's shared legacy.

Qi Xin contributed to this story.