Nineteenth Meeting of Ministers of Culture member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

On May 19, 2022, the 19th Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Tashkent under the chairmanship of the Uzbek side.

The parties confirmed their interest in developing joint projects in the field of cinema, theater, librarianship and museums in order to strengthen mutual understanding between peoples, preserve the diversity of cultures and spread knowledge about the culture, customs and traditions of the peoples of the SCO member states.

The parties welcomed the decision taken during the Meeting of Heads of Tourism Administrations of the SCO Member States, held on May 19-20, 2022 in Tashkent, to approve the candidacy of the city of Varanasi (Republic of India) for obtaining the status of "Tourist and cultural capital of the SCO countries".

The parties expressed their readiness to promote the holding of art festivals, competitions, forums, scientific conferences and other types of cultural events in order to promote exchange and cooperation in the field of preserving the cultural and historical heritage of the peoples of the SCO member states.

An agreement was reached to hold the 20th Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the SCO Member States in 2023 in the Republic of India. The specific dates and venue of the Meeting will be agreed through diplomatic channels through the SCO Secretariat.