Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) Islamabad, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan Saturday signed an agreement of cooperation to promote and strengthen the civil society linkages through public diplomacy initiatives.
The MoU aimed to exchange and cooperate in scientific and social research, exchange of ideas and expertise in the areas of mutual interest. This also includes joint publications, research projects, and coordination in various public activities, joint program, and projects through the instruments of public diplomacy in the spheres of science, education, culture, sports, mass media and other for the development of exchange of experiences, knowledge, and ideas including training courses, roundtable discussions, seminars, and others.
This MoU is an important step towards collaboration while SCO is celebrating 20 years of its establishment. SCO is regional organization with eight permanent member states including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Center for Public Diplomacy established in Uzbekistan with the decree of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is a non-profit organization to ensure the wide use of public diplomacy mechanisms in strengthening ties between the SCO member states. In June 2017, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed an initiative to create a public diplomatic center in Tashkent at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO in Astana, Kazakhstan.—INP
