World Tourism Cities Federation and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Signs Cooperation Agreement

On 15th May, 2017, World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) signed the “Cooperation Framework Agreement between WTCF Secretariat and SCO Secretariat” with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Beijing. WTCF Secretary-General Song Yu and SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov represented their respective organization and signed the agreement together.

The content of the agreement includes promoting the rich historical and cultural heritages of China and countries along the Belt and Road; jointly hold Open Day event of SCO Secretariat and design tourism souvenirs for SCO; work together to design and prepare the brochures of SCO and its member states, including the promotion of tourism resources; the activities conducted joint by the two sides within the framework of this Agreement are non-commercial in nature. They are not for profit-making in any form but for mutual benefit, etc.

SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said that the signing of the agreement, adopted during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, will contribute to the cooperation and mutual benefit of SCO and the tourism cities along the Silk Road Economic Belt. WTCF Secretary-General Song Yu pointed out that the secretariats of both SCO and WTCF are based in Beijing. Additionally, all of the member countries of SCO are situated in the Silk Road Economic Belt. WTCF and SCO have many things in common and are close to each other in distance. Tourism will deepened the understanding and communication of the countries and residents along the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The agreement is one of the most important achievements of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Cooperation between WTCF and SCO will promote the construction of the Belt and Road tourism corridor and strengthen communication and enhance mutual benefits between the member countries’ tourism cities.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The SCO's main goals are as follows: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.