On September 27-28, 2024, the 5th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Think Tank Forum titled “A Common Home for a Bright Future” took place in Shanghai. The event was attended by a representative from the Center for China Studies, along with leading experts from the think tanks of SCO member countries, as well as representatives from international organizations and partners from other countries.
The forum, held annually since 2020, is organized by the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law and the China Institute of International Studies. This year’s forum was dedicated to celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China’s upcoming presidency of the SCO in 2025, and the approaching 25th anniversary of the organization’s establishment.
The event was co-organized by the SCO International Legal Training and Cooperation Center, the China Institute of International Studies, and the China SCO Research Center. The main goal of the forum was to review the dynamic development and strengthening of the SCO, analyze emerging challenges and issues, and define the prospects and directions for the organization’s further growth.
Key topics discussed at the forum included global governance, security, world development and civilization, as well as SCO’s cooperation and interaction with Western partners. Special attention was given to Central Asia’s role in the context of geopolitical competition among great powers.
The participation of the representative from the Center for China Studies contributed to deepening academic and research cooperation, as well as exchanging views and experiences on key issues of international relations and regional development. The forum provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with colleagues from the “SCO family” and discuss ways to further strengthen the organization on the international stage.
More than one hundred representatives from SCO member countries participated in the event, including Secretariat officials, high-ranking politicians, diplomats, as well as scholars and heads of think tanks. The forum once again underscored the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation in achieving common goals and fostering stable development in the region.
