Uzbek president proposes opening SCO tourism corridor

Speaking at the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council on September 1, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the launch of a tourism corridor and an SCO Medical Tourism Alliance.

Mirziyoyev’s press service quoted him as saying: “We propose to develop promising projects such as launching a tourism corridor and an SCO Medical Tourism Alliance,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media.

The president also highlighted the importance of deepening cultural ties and strengthening the institution of “people’s diplomacy.”

“A powerful stimulus for expanding humanitarian exchanges and further bringing our peoples closer could be the organization of an International Festival of Folk Art, the creation of an online campus for the SCO University partnership network, and the organization of annual competitions and Olympiads for students and young professionals in innovative fields,” Mirziyoyev added.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit underway in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, marks the 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the SCO. As the largest summit in the SCO’s history, it brought together leaders from over 20 nations, including full members, observer states, and dialogue partners, to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and global governance in a multipolar world. Below is a detailed background on the summit, its context, and its significance, based on available information.

By Khagan Isayev