Exchange of different cultures boosts "soft power" for SCO development, says expert
13/6/2006 17:11
The exchange of diversified cultures will serve as a "soft power" to
enhance mutual understanding among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) and accordingly promote regional stability and prosperity, a
Chinese scholar said.
Su Chang, a researcher engaged in central Asia affairs
with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made the remarks before the SCO
summit slated for June 15 in Shanghai.
"Cultural exchanges and cooperation
within the SCO is at an initial stage in comparison with that in security and
economic fields. Yet a solid foundation has been laid for cultural exchanges
since all the SCO members have long history of civilizations and share a common
wish for cultural dialogues," Su said.
This year marks the fifth anniversary
of the founding of the SCO, which comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The summit will also include an artistic
festival with performances presented by all member states and observer countries
including Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran.
As Chinese President Hu Jintao
said in a joint interview with media representatives from the six SCO member
states at the end of May, the summit will review the developments of the
organization over the past five years, analyze international and regional
situations, study the organization's future development and outline cooperation
plans.
"Cultural cooperation is commonly believed as a low-cost cooperation
with high returns," Su said, explaining that cultural cooperation and economic
cooperation have been considered as the major "soft power" and "hard power" in
international politics.
In the 21st century when the whole world calls for
peace and development, cultural cooperation will play a more prominent role in
quenching misunderstanding and hostility among different peoples and nations,
the scholar said.
"The SCO as a regional organization will right play this
role, with all member states conducting a wide range of cooperation based on
mutual respect for each other's traditional cultures and values," she
said.
Su stressed that cultural exchanges and cooperation will also help SCO
member states fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and
extremism, and establish a new political and economic order around the
globe.
SCO member states hold different cultures and various religions such
as Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Orthodox. To strengthen cultural cooperation
among SCO member states will provide a platform for dialogues among peoples of
different ethnic groups, and make different cultures boom in peaceful
coexistence instead of conflicts, Su said.
She explained that SCO member
states have conducted dialogues on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
They always bear in mind the "Shanghai Spirit" which features mutual respect for
different civilizations and common prosperity. The smooth development of the SCO
over the past five years has showcased that different civilizations could
achieve peaceful coexistence within a pluralism mechanism.
SCO member states
have made remarkable achievements in cultural and educational cooperation with a
series of agreements signed and various cultural activities held, Su said.
"There is a great potential for future cooperation that demands long-term joint
efforts."
She stressed cultural cooperation among SCO member states should be
carried out in a multilateral way instead of the current bilateral way. More
market-oriented cooperation should be carried out at non-governmental levels
instead of merely depending on governments.
Statistics showed that SCO member
states as a whole cover more than 30 million square km, or three fifths of the
European and Asian continents. And 1.489 billion people live in SCO member
states, around one fourth of the world's population.
"More people in the SCO
member states should be mobilized to participate in the cultural cooperation, so
that more people can enjoy the benefits brought by such pluralism cooperation,"
Su said.
Xinhua News
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