2026 SCO Forum on People-to-People Exchange held in Bishkek

The 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on People-to-People Exchange was held in Bishkek on Sunday.

The event was co-hosted by China Media Group (CMG) and the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation of the Kyrgyz Republic (NTRK).

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov sent a congratulatory message.

More than 100 guests, including political, economic, cultural and media representatives from SCO countries, attended the event, where a series of cooperation outcomes were announced.

Japarov said the media plays an important role in enhancing mutual understanding among SCO countries.

He expressed the hope that the event would inject new impetus into practical cooperation in media projects, professional exchanges, talent training and content co-creation, and lead to more high-quality productions focusing on the history, culture and contemporary development of various countries.

Kyrgyzstan will continue to deepen people-to-people exchanges and promote mutual learning among civilizations within the SCO framework, he said.

Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, said this year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO.

Guided by the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, the SCO has become the world's most extensive and populous regional organization.

CMG has worked with SCO media to build cooperation mechanisms and produce quality programs.

A series of new outcomes were unveiled at the event, including documentaries and the "CMG Showcase – SCO Special," an in-flight content available on China Southern Airlines' international routes.

Ulanbek Satiev, General Director of the NTRK, said the SCO summit would further elevate Kyrgyz-China relations.

Cooperation among media institutions is particularly important amid profound changes in the media landscape, he said, expressing hope that they would deepen professional ties and expand cooperation in content production and distribution.

SCO Deputy Secretary-General Piao Yangfan noted that the SCO has embarked on an extraordinary development journey over the past 25 years under the guidance of the "Shanghai Spirit." She called on all parties to expand mutual learning among civilizations and consolidate people-to-people friendship, contributing to a closer SCO community with a shared future.