The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on Women started on Sept 10 in the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, and will last until Sept 12.

With the theme of "Pooling women's strength for the SCO community with a shared future," the forum features bilateral meetings, a welcome banquet, an opening ceremony, plenary sessions, and a closing ceremony.

Approximately 150 Chinese and foreign guests are gathering in Qingdao to discuss women's development strategies and hear about the progress made in Shandong on women and children's causes. Women representatives from various sectors will also participate in the forum.

During the forum, a cooperation agreement signing ceremony will be held, along with activities such as an exhibition of women's handicrafts and visits to women and children's projects in Qingdao.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on Women is an important initiative to implement the outcomes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Heads of State Council. The first forum was successfully held in Beijing in 2018, in Kyrgyzstan second, in Tajikistan third, and in Uzbekistan fourth during each's chairmanship of the SCO. The forum has become an important platform for women from SCO member states to unite and collaborate for development.