On July 12, the 2024-25 Tourism and Cultural Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) event was launched in the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center. In the event, the “2024-25 Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO” was unveiled, the 2024 SCO Summer Event and the Campaign on Collecting Folk Customs for artists from SCO member states were launched, and a signing ceremony was held on the joint publishing project among SCO member states.

The 2024 SCO Summer Event, which features Qingdao’s urban characteristics and cultural features of SCO member states, will see a flurry of activities. In regard to music and dance, more than 20 activities will be held including a choir concert and the SCO Summer music season; in regard to tourism development, 20 pavilions with national characteristics in the Qingdao SCODA International Expo Center will house more than 20 themed activities including the exhibition on Uzbekistan national porcelain wares; in regard to history and cultural heritage, such events as the Qingdao Handcraft Festival will be held; in regard to sport, aquatic sport contests such as sailing, paddle boarding and canoeing will be held along Yuli Lake; in regard to youth exchanges, an international youth training camp on emergency medicine and a study trip camp to Sri Lanka will be held among other events.

   As Qingdao was officially designated as the 2024-25 Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO in the SCO Astana Summit, Qingdao is charged with a new mission of better facilitating cultural exchanges between SCO member states.  (Liu Ping)