SCO media and think tank summit concludes in Zhengzhou

Harici Media participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Media and Think Tank Summit.

The summit emphasized the importance of upholding the “Shanghai Spirit” and uniting the media and academic worlds to advance change and cooperation within the SCO framework.

Tunç Akkoç, Editor-in-Chief of Harici, participated in the Summit.

The SCO Media and Think Tank Summit was held in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan province, from July 23-27.

Themed “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit to Build a More Beautiful Homeland,” the event brought together more than 400 representatives from approximately 200 media outlets, think tanks, and government agencies from SCO member states, observer countries, and dialogue partners.

Speaking at the general session, Mo Gaoyi, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the State Council Information Office, called on all parties to actively promote the Shanghai Spirit.

Mo stated that with the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin, the gathering of media and think tank representatives is of great importance for building a closer SCO community with a shared future.

Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua expressed their readiness to fully leverage the advantages of media and think tanks to cooperate with all parties in line with the SCO’s common development goal.

Fu said that by highlighting areas of common interest and concern, they aim to present a panoramic and multidimensional narrative of how SCO countries are joining forces in the new era, thereby contributing wisdom and strength to building a closer SCO community with a shared future.

Peng Jinhui, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Liu Ning, the CCP Henan Party Secretary, also delivered speeches at the event.

A congratulatory letter from Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov was read. In the letter, Japarov noted that media and think tanks play a significant role in building trust and showcasing the spirit and culture of the SCO. He expressed confidence that the summit would generate new ideas and initiatives to promote peace and sustainable development.

The summit was jointly organized by Xinhua, CASS, and the Henan provincial government, under the guidance of the State Council Information Office.

The summit released the Zhengzhou Consensus of the SCO Media and Think Tank Summit, a think tank report titled Common Management of the Treasures of Human Civilization: The Philosophy and Practices of China’s Cultural Heritage Protection in the New Era, and a think tank report on research toward building a shared future for the SCO.

Emphasis on peace, stability, and mutual understanding

During the opening ceremony, speakers highlighted the critical role of media and policy institutes in overcoming global and regional challenges.

They stressed the need to strengthen communication channels to promote peace, stability, and mutual understanding among SCO members.

Participants pointed to the importance of building bridges through inter-civilizational dialogue, cultural exchange, and accurate media representation, which are aligned with the SCO’s core principles of justice, inclusiveness, and cooperation.

Throughout the summit sessions, media professionals and policy experts discussed how to strengthen the role of journalism in shaping public debate and influencing regional decision-making processes.

They also called for expanding partnerships between media organizations and think tanks to provide viable policy recommendations and long-term strategies for common development.

The summit also revealed the growing importance of think tanks in analyzing global trends and helping SCO countries formulate informed and forward-looking responses to changing challenges.

Media cooperation and coordination

At the summit, representatives of the world’s leading media organizations emphasized deepening cooperation and pointed to the importance of enhancing media coordination among SCO countries.

From Türkiye, Harici Media Editor-in-Chief Tunç Akkoç attended the summit, along with Marmara Group Foundation President Akkan Suver, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ünal, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Çolakoğlu, and officials from the DHA.

As part of the summit, delegates visited key cultural and innovation centers in Zhengzhou, including the Shang Dynasty Ruins Museum, the Yutong Bus Company, and a leading artificial intelligence technology firm specializing in next-generation intelligent agents.

(From left to right) Tunç Akkoç, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ünal, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Çolakoğlu