Pakistan Supports SCO Initiatives for Fostering Cultural and Tourism Diplomacy : Minister of Culture
Regional connectivity, protection of shared cultural heritage, and collaborative tourism development are vital for the peaceful development under SCO, says Pakistan’s Minister of State

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Pakistan Supports SCO Initiatives for Fostering Cultural and Tourism Diplomacy : Minister of Culture
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Regional connectivity, protection of shared cultural heritage, and collaborative tourism development are vital for the peaceful development under SCO, says Pakistan’s Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Culture and National Heritage, Huzaifa Rehman
By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia
Qingdao, China: Regional connectivity, protection of shared cultural heritage, and collaborative tourism development are vital for the peaceful development under the umbrella of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
These remarks were made by Pakistan’s Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Culture and National Heritage, Huzaifa Rehman while addressing the 22nd Meeting of the SCO Ministers of Culture held in Qingdao, China.

In his address, State Minister Rehman stated:
“Pakistan is fully committed to enhancing its cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at every level. China is not just a neighbor but a brother, and we are determined to work with all member states to make the SCO a robust, forward-looking, and effective platform.”
Mr Rehman’s presence in China is a testament to Pakistan’s evolving foreign policy, which places cultural and tourism diplomacy at its core. It signals a shift from hard power posturing to a more holistic and people-centered global engagement strategy.
In his concluding remarks, he noted:
“Pakistan and China are more than just neighbors — we are brothers at heart. Pakistan deeply values China’s unwavering support at global forums, and we envision a region where culture and tourism drive sustainable peace and unity.”
His remarks reflected both Pakistan’s ancient civilizational depth and a modern diplomatic approach grounded in mutual respect and peace-building.

As India continues to face diplomatic isolation on major global forums, Pakistan reaffirmed its active and mature presence on the world stage through a dynamic participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ministerial meeting held in Qingdao.
Representing Pakistan, Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Culture and National Heritage, Huzaifa Rehman, delivered a compelling, thoughtful address while also engaging in high-level bilateral meetings with key regional and international delegates, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to peace, partnership, and regional integration.
Pakistan’s active, thoughtful, and culturally aware diplomacy continues to break new ground, offering the world a narrative based on cooperation, heritage, and shared human values.
The 22nd Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member States was held in Qingdao in a hybrid format under the chairmanship of the China.
The event was attended by the heads of ministries and departments of culture of the Organization’s member states, SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev.
SCO Secretary General N.Yermekbayev noted that within the framework of the SCO, cultural projects become platforms for bringing peoples closer together, building trust and mutual understanding, and promoting the ideas of peace and good neighborliness.
In this context, the activities of the institutes of public diplomacy in China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which play an important role in expanding humanitarian ties and building public support for SCO initiatives, were highlighted.
The sides exchanged views on the current situation in promoting cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO, and agreed to continue bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on the Agreement between the Governments of the SCO member States on Cultural Cooperation