With the theme of Carrying Forward the Shanghai Spirit, Promoting Friendly Cooperation, SCO Forum on People-to-People Friendship and the Forum on Friendship Cities kicks off at Qingdao International Conference Center on June 15.

More than 400 attendees in the forum, including government officials and envoys to China, leaders of local governments and friendship organizations from SCO countries, as well as relevant officials from some national ministries, provinces, and cities, and representatives of various sectors of society and media involved in SCO civilian friendship work.

A signing ceremony was held at the opening ceremony. The launching Ceremony of the “China (Shandong) - Shanghai Cooperation Organization Countries Friendly Cooperation and Exchange Season” and the launching Ceremony of the SCO Youth Sports and Culture Festival were also held. Before the opening ceremony, the leaders and guests visited the exhibition and took group photos.

At the main venue, more than ten heads of friendship organizations and mayors of SCO countries spoke on promoting people-to-people friendship exchanges and practical cooperation in friendship cities.

In the afternoon, three sub-forums and a closing ceremony will be held: the Forum on SCO Countries Science and Technology Innovation, the Forum on SCO Country Education People-to-People Exchange 2023 and 2023 SCO Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development & Opening Ceremony of Poverty Alleviation Training Course.

(By Yuan Yu/Yang Jiming)