Shengyang (TDI): The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on People-to-People Friendship and the Forum on Friendship Cities concluded in Shenyang on Friday evening with renewed commitments to regional connectivity, subnational diplomacy, and practical cooperation.
Hosted by the Shenyang Municipal Government, the closing ceremony was presided over by Lyu Zhicheng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shenyang Municipal Committee and Mayor of Shenyang.
The event drew participation from government officials, diplomatic representatives, and international delegates—including from Pakistan—who had gathered for three days of exchanges on sustainable partnerships and grassroots engagement across the SCO region.
Wang Xinwei, Governor of Liaoning Province, addressed the audience and praised the outcomes of the forum, stating that Liaoning would continue to serve as a bridge for SCO member states seeking to enhance city-level collaboration and cultural exchanges. “These dialogues have laid a strong foundation for practical cooperation,” he said.
Cui Li, Vice President of the SCO Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission, emphasized the role of cities in promoting understanding among nations. She urged members to continue fostering mutual trust and deepen exchanges across sectors such as education, health, trade, and sustainable urban development.
Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the Russian Association for Local Self-Government Development and a member of the Presidential Council for Local Governance in Russia also spoke on the occasion. She underscored the importance of empowering local institutions in shaping regional ties and praised the SCO for elevating local actors in international cooperation.
Duan Jiyang, Vice Mayor of Shenyang and member of the city’s CPC Standing Committee, presented a comprehensive overview of Shenyang’s development vision, highlighting its growing role as a regional economic hub and cultural bridge. He invited SCO countries to explore deeper investment, trade, and cultural linkages with Shenyang, particularly in areas like smart manufacturing, technology, and tourism.
Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), formally proclaimed the 2025 Shenyang Initiative. The document builds on the earlier consensus released at the opening ceremony and calls for “enhancing practical cooperation among friendship cities, promoting inclusive development, and expanding people-to-people ties across the SCO region.”
The ceremony concluded with the signing of several economic and trade cooperation agreements between municipal governments and international organizations, reflecting the growing interest in using the SCO framework to foster business linkages beyond traditional diplomatic tracks.
Pakistan’s engagement throughout the forum has reflected its long-standing emphasis on public diplomacy, regional cooperation, and soft power. Officials from Islamabad underscored the role of such platforms in creating shared spaces for dialogue, especially at a time when conventional diplomacy is increasingly complemented by cultural and civic exchanges.
With the conclusion of this year’s forum, SCO countries are expected to follow up on the partnerships initiated in Shenyang, including exchanges between cities, cultural institutions, and business associations. The forum is part of China’s wider strategy during its 2025 SCO chairmanship to elevate people-to-people diplomacy as a cornerstone of regional cooperation.
The Diplomatic Insight is a digital and print magazine focusing on diplomacy, defense, and development publishing since 2009.
