Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 23
By Demir Azizov– Trend:
Ministers of culture of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the meeting held June 22 in Tashkent agreed for further improvement of cooperation with the observer states and dialogue partners of SCO in the field of culture and art, both on a bilateral and on a multilateral basis, according to the final document of the meeting.
Representatives of culture ministries of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov took part in the meeting.
The participants of the meeting discussed the promising areas of cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian spheres and other issues.
The sides expressed their mutual desire to further develop cultural ties within the SCO framework, strengthening the mutual understanding and respect, harmonious coexistence of different nationalities and religions, active dissemination of knowledge about the centuries-old traditions and customs of the people of SCO member states.
The meeting participants confirmed their readiness to enhance cooperation in such areas as the study and preservation of the cultural heritage of the SCO region, preventing theft and illegal import and export of cultural property, the creation of databases and registers of monuments of architecture, training of specialists in the field of civilization and cultural heritage and restoration of art works and other directions of mutual interest.
The sides noted that the joint activities in the field of culture and art promote understanding between people, the preservation of cultural diversity and the dissemination of knowledge about the culture of the people around the world.
Currently, the SCO member states are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observer states, and Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka are the SCO dialogue partners.