On June 17th, 2023, the Model SCO Youth Conference was jointly organized by Weihai Vocational College and SCOLAR Network. The conference aimed to deepen cooperation in the field of vocational education, facilitate exchanges and foster friendships among the youth from the SCO countries. 18 young leaders representing eight SCO member states and the SCO Secretariat joined the Model SCO as delegates. The conference focused on leveraging vocational education to promote regional economic development within the SCO.
The Model SCO was attended by the Party Secretary of the Weihai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office Longhai Cong, Deputy Director Wei Zhang, President of Weihai Vocational College Donghui Xu, member of the Party Committee and the Minister of the Publicity Department Zhigang Liu, Director of the International Exchange Office Aijuan Sun, SCOLAR Network CEO Victoria Khu, Model SCO Chief Mentor Shikha Thapa Magar, and others.
Opening Ceremony
During the opening ceremony, Donghui Xu, Longhai Cong, and Victoria Khu delivered welcoming speeches.
Donghui Xu highlighted the significance of the Model SCO organized at Weihai Vocational College, which coincided with the SCO Forum on People-to-People Friendship and Forum on Friendship Cities in Qingdao. Mr. Xu emphasized the importance of upholding the “Shanghai Spirit” and furthering cooperation in vocational education and other areas among the SCO countries. He congratulated participants on behalf of Weihai Vocational College faculty and students with the successful event and expressed gratitude to the young representatives and mentors of SCOLAR for their active participation and guidance. Mr. Xu encouraged youth delegates to demonstrate their skills and showcase the remarkable qualities of the SCO youth.
Longhai Cong emphasized that the youth not only hold the key to the future but also play a vital role in fostering friendship. With a staggering number of over one billion young individuals within the SCO, a formidable force has been established to strengthen people-to-people connections. The Model SCO conference serves as an invaluable platform for both Chinese and international youth to engage in dialogue, facilitating the expansion of their international horizons. By participating in this event, the young representatives will act as ambassadors and links between Weihai and the SCO member states, promoting friendship and understanding. Mr. Cong also expressed his wish for everyone to learn from one another, grow together, and carry forward the “Shanghai Spirit”.
Victoria Khu expressed her delight in the organizing of the Model SCO Conference together with Weihai Vocational College for the second time. She extended her appreciation to the diligent organizers and mentors for their careful guidance and training of the youth delegates. Victoria acknowledged the significant efforts made by each young representative, who underwent a rigorous selection process, training sessions, and document preparation before finally participating in the on-site event at the college. She emphasized that every young delegate acts as a diplomat and represents their respective country. Victoria encouraged the delegates to openly share their thoughts on the conference topic, exchange practical experiences, and propose feasible solutions, aiming to discover new approaches to promote regional economic development in the SCO through vocational education.
Discussion Part
Following that, under the presidency of India, the event progressed. Representatives from each member state and the SCO Secretariat took turns delivering speeches, leading to discussions and the creation of a statement.
Mentors’ Concluding Remarks
At the end of the event, Shikha Thapa Magar, Model SCO project coordinator, delivered a closing speech and commended all the young representatives for their remarkable speeches, stating that they did an excellent job. She expressed her hope that although the Model SCO Conference in Weihai had concluded, this experience would serve as a new beginning for the SCO youth, empowering them to gain more confidence and embark on new future endeavors.
Awards Ceremony
After the event, the young representatives from each country participated in a collective voting process to select the winners in the categories “Best Delegate,” “Best Performer,” and “Best Position Paper.” The winners were presented with the certificates of recognition.
Mr. Donghui Xu awarded the certificates to the winners in the categories “Best Delegate” and “Best Performer”.
Victoria Khu and Shikha Thapa Magar presented the certificate to the recipient of the “Best Position Paper”.
Zhigang Liu distributed certificates of participation to all the attending youth representatives.
Additionally, Victoria Khu expressed gratitude to Weihai Vocational College by presenting a letter of appreciation.
Following the conclusion of the event, the youth representatives and guests gathered for a group photo.
“Discover Weihai” Cultural Trip
Subsequently, delegates participated in the “Discover Weihai” cultural trip organized by the college. The trip included visits to the campus facilities of Weihai Vocational College, Desheng Group, and the breathtaking tourist attractions along the “Thousands of Miles of Mountains and Seas” route in Weihai. The youth representatives sincerely praised the distinctive educational features of Weihai Vocational College, were impressed by the strong capabilities of Desheng Group, and were captivated by the scenic beauty of Weihai’s natural landscapes.
Find the Weihai Vocational College Declaration of the “Model SCO”‘s Head of State Council below: