TASHKENT, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China has made important contributions to advancing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and deepening political mutual trust among its members, with the Shanghai Spirit serving as core guidance for member states to unite, an Uzbek expert has said.
Over its 25-year history, the SCO has achieved solid results in education, youth, sports, tourism and media cooperation, Kabuljon Sabirov, director of the Tashkent-based SCO's Public Diplomacy Center, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Despite differences in economic scale and cultural background among the SCO member states, the Shanghai Spirit has been bringing their peoples closer together, he said.
People-to-people connectivity is an important prerequisite for lasting peace and common prosperity, he further said, describing trust-based people-to-people diplomacy as a bridge for promoting inter-civilizational dialogue.
On bilateral initiatives, Sabirov noted that Uzbekistan and China have jointly held cultural exhibitions for children and implemented a charitable medical program providing free cataract surgeries to thousands of Uzbek patients. An "SCO Knowledge Hall" has also been established in Tashkent with Chinese support, alongside publications showcasing member states' traditional cultures.
Against a backdrop of global turbulence and growing trust deficits, Sabirov stressed the importance of pursuing a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, saying it charts a path for regional countries to jointly address shared challenges.
The center stands ready to continue telling stories of friendship under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit and contribute to building a safer and more prosperous world, Sabirov said. ■
