On 24 November, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming met with Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Kovalchuk at the SCO Year of Tourism 2023 forum.
The Secretary-General welcomed the participation of the Republic of Belarus in the forum and expressed hope that the procedure of Belarus becoming a full member state of the Organisation would be completed at the upcoming SCO summit in Astana in 2024.
In return, Sergei Kovalchuk thanked Zhang Ming for the hospitality and praised the organisation of the forum. He expressed his country's readiness to fully engage in all areas of cooperation within the SCO. According to the minister, the SCO offers new opportunities for Belarus and the country is ready to embrace them.
During a comprehensive discussion of the SCO’s humanitarian agenda, both parties acknowledged the significance and potential of developing the tourism industry and promoting cooperation among member states in this field. They agreed that such forums serve as a platform for government agencies, private tourist agencies and think tanks to address challenges and advance the tourism industry.
Additionally, the parties discussed the prospects of cooperation in sports.
