Deputy Chairman of the Chinese SCO Committee visited Vitebsk

Deputy Chairperson of the Chinese SCO Committee Visited Vitebsk

09.07.2026

How can people of different nationalities get to know each other better? By developing humanitarian ties, cultural exchange, and interregional cooperation. This is the conviction of Ms. Cui Li, Deputy Chairperson of the Chinese SCO Committee for Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, who visited Vitebsk on July 9.

In the regional center, the distinguished guest, accompanied by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Aleksey Guida, visited the Marc Chagall House-Museum. During the tour, she familiarized herself with the legacy of the great artist and discussed prospects for cooperation in the cultural sphere, utilizing the potential of sister-city ties between the Vitebsk region and Chinese regions.

– This is my first visit to Vitebsk, and I am convinced that it will not be my last. I specifically came to the city, which rightfully bears the title of the cultural capital of Belarus, to develop friendly ties and cultural exchange, utilizing the potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, – Ms. Cui Li noted in an interview with journalists.

The SCO, whose members include China and Belarus, is primarily established to strengthen mutual trust, friendship, and good neighborliness. The distinguished guest expressed hope for expanding the space for people's diplomacy, which is the foundation for developing relations between countries.

A separate item on the agenda was a visit to the Vitebsk Regional Palace of Children and Youth. Its pupils prepared a diverse program featuring artistic and instrumental creativity, decorative and applied arts, and even sport climbing. Specifically for the Chinese guest, children from theater studios presented performances dedicated to Chinese and Belarusian culture. Familiarization with cultural traditions provides an opportunity to better understand each other.

As noted by Alexey Guida, it is people's diplomacy that strengthens economic and political ties between countries. The Vitebsk region is actively developing cooperation with the regions of China, particularly in the scientific, educational, and cultural spheres. Moreover, it is laying the foundation for expanding such contacts in the future. To this end, nearly 800 children in the regional center alone are studying the Chinese language, including as an elective, and interest in this process is steadily growing.