The 2024 SCO Summer Event is launched in Qingdao on July 12. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2024-25 Tourism and Cultural Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) event was launched in Qingdao, Shandong on July 12. The 2024 SCO Summer Event was launched simultaneously.

At the event, Kopylov Oleg, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, said that SCO member countries possess rich histories and ancient civilizations. Showcasing the immense tourism potential of each country is an important task for the development of the SCO.

According to Oleg, China holds significant and unique international cooperation potential in the fields of tourism and culture. Qingdao, renowned as a tourist destination and sightseeing hub in China, boasts abundant natural resources and a long cultural history.

"In Qingdao, one can experience the convergence of different cultures and civilizations. This unique attraction of Qingdao makes it a cultural exchange center among SCO member countries," he said.

Oleg stated that the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) will allow tourism and cultural exchanges among SCO member countries to achieve greater development and make more brilliant achievements.

Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), said in a video message that he hopes this event will serve as an opportunity to propel new avenues of cooperation between the UNWTO and Qingdao and collectively promote the development of the tourism industry in SCO countries.

At the event, the SCODA in Qingdao announced the series of activities planned for the 2024 SCO Summer event season. The activities will focus on areas such as intercultural dialogue, the development of the tourism industry, youth exchanges, media cooperation, and historical and cultural heritage, with over 20 categories and nearly a hundred distinctive events to be held in Qingdao and overseas.