SCO showcases ancient traditions

Chinese tai chi and Indian yoga met at a news conference on Shanghai Cooperation Organization Cultural and Sports Events for 2020-21 in Beijing on Sunday. The two performances, by students from Beijing Sport University and the Indian embassy in China respectively, showcased the vitality of two ancient civilizations and their charm.

Based on the principle of the Shanghai spirit, which incorporates values such as trust and mutual benefit, equality, consultations on an equal footing, respect for the diversity of cultures and the desire for joint development, the SCO was established in 2001 as a permanent intergovernmental organization.

In order to "develop cultural and sports exchanges between our countries, and promote dialogue between our peoples", according to SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov, the organization presents a series of cultural and sports events.

The 5th SCO Kunming Marathon will be held on Dec 6 in an online format, SCO announced at the news conference. As a brand event of this series, the marathon has been held annually since 2016, attracting more than 80,000 participants. It was recognized as a silver-licensed event by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 2020.