**SCO Television Festival Promotes Media Cooperation and Cultural Exchange in Xi’an**
The Second Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Television Festival was recently held in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China, drawing nearly 300 delegates from 19 SCO member countries. The event, themed “Uniting Civilizations: Audiovisual Cooperation for a Shared Future,” focused on fostering collaboration within the television industry and enhancing cultural ties across the region.
Organized by the General Directorate of Radio and Television Broadcasting of the People’s Republic of China, the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province, and the SCO Secretariat, the festival brought together key figures from the media industry, including renowned journalists, Chinese and international scientists, and television professionals. The opening ceremony was addressed by Cao Shumin, Director of China’s General Directorate of Broadcasting and Television, and Zhao Gang, Governor of Shaanxi Province, who welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of media partnerships.
Batir Tursunov, Deputy Secretary General of the SCO, underscored the organization’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in the television sector. He referenced the 2019 intergovernmental agreement on mass media cooperation among SCO member states, emphasizing that such initiatives are vital for promoting the organization’s objectives. Tursunov called on regional media outlets to actively cover the SCO’s activities and popularize its goals, thereby helping to build a positive environment for multifaceted collaboration.
Tursunov also highlighted the need to accelerate the modernization and digitalization of the television industry, improve personnel training, and deepen ties among young journalists from member countries. He noted that the SCO Television Festival, established in 2023, has swiftly become a leading platform for interaction within the organization, encouraging all participants to work towards the full implementation of the joint declaration adopted at the festival.
In a meeting held ahead of the festival, Batir Tursunov and Cao Shumin discussed the future of bilateral cooperation in the media sector, exchanging views on ways to further develop the partnership between the SCO and Chinese broadcasting authorities.
The festival served as a key forum for dialogue and exchange, reinforcing the role of audiovisual cooperation in uniting civilizations and building a shared future among SCO member states.
