The China-SCO Higher Education Cooperation Center hosts a Spring Festival reception in Beijing on March 2, 2026, to foster educational collaboration among SCO member states. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The China-SCO Higher Education Cooperation Center hosted a Spring Festival reception on Monday in Beijing, bringing together over 70 representatives from SCO member states' embassies in China, officials from Shaanxi provincial government, and representatives from partner universities to foster educational collaboration.

Zhang Liqun, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who also serves as director of the center, delivers a speech at the reception in Beijing on March 2, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhang Liqun, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who also serves as director of the center, outlined key priorities for 2026, which marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO's establishment. He said the center will focus on improving coordination mechanisms, strengthening cooperation foundations, advancing digital education innovation, exploring new collaboration pathways, and promoting industry-education integration to develop new models of partnership.

"Our university stands ready to work with all parties to contribute educational strength to building a better SCO community with a shared future through practical actions and deepened cooperation," Zhang added.

Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, delivers a speech at the reception in Beijing on March 2, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, said the university has made positive contributions to expanding academic exchanges and professional cooperation among SCO countries.

"Over the past 25 years, the SCO has evolved into a significant regional organization. I hope the center would inject new momentum into cooperation among member states, serve as a starting point for collaboration across political, economic and cultural fields, and provide more exchange opportunities for the younger generation to help build a closer SCO community with a shared future," he added.

Representatives from partner universities deliver speeches at the reception in Beijing on March 2, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]