The Center for the study of SCO activities will be created at BSU

The Center for the study of the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be created at BSU. This decision is due to the agreement signed in China on the opening of a Research center of the Chinese-SCO Trade and Economic Academy of Qingdao University at BSU. The document was signed by the rector of BSU Andrei Karol and the rector of Qingdao University Xia Dongwei. This event is very symbolic, since it took place on the day of the founding of the SCO. The international organization was founded on 15 June, 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
The center will operate on the basis of the Faculty of International Relations of BSU. This will strengthen the effectiveness of providing expert assistance to the dissemination of information about the Belarus–SCO dialogue partnership, will intensify the development of economic ties, exchanges in the field of science, culture and education. The Center will become an intellectual platform for conducting research in the field of international activities, history, law, trade, economy and culture of the SCO. It is also planned to implement major joint research projects with China's participation in the fields of politics, security, trade, investment, industry, energy, transport, finance, small and medium-sized businesses, science and technology, ecology, human resource development, etc.
The functioning of the center will cover several areas. Educational, scientific, and international cooperation involves holding international conferences, forums, and expert presentations to provide intellectual support to the SCO, the countries participating in the «One Belt, One Road» program. The agreement also prescribes the organization of academic exchange of students for joint study; the development of programs for joint training of specialists.
During the meeting of Rectors Andrei Karol and Xia Dongwei, the substantive content of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 was discussed. In particular, they discussed the training of highly qualified personnel, the organization of joint scientific guidance of graduate students and doctoral students. The meeting resulted in the signing by universities of another agreement on the study abroad program, which reflects in detail the conditions for the exchange of students.
The SCO's activities continued at the venues of the People's Diplomacy Forum, the SCO Twin Cities Forum and the Forum of Humanitarian Exchanges in the Field of Education held in the framework of these events in Qingdao. They are dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the SCO summit in Qingdao and are aimed at deepening educational exchanges within the members of this organization. Welcoming the participants, Andrei Karol noted the importance of the forums for Belarus, since the procedure for Belarus' admission to the SCO began in 2022.