The State Council approved an overall plan issued by the Heilongjiang government and the General Administration of Sport to build a China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization ice and snow sports demonstration zone, according to an official reply released on March 29.

The reply highlighted the demonstration zone’s role as an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation in sports, culture, talent, and industries between SCO countries and countries along the Belt and Road, and encouraging pioneering efforts, and innovating institutional mechanisms, to enhance the level of opening-up and cooperation domestically and internationally.

According to the reply, the government of Heilongjiang province should strengthen its organization leadership in building the demonstration zone, while the General Administration of Sport should intensify coordination, supervision and guidance.