Young leaders from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states are taking part in a five-day "Road to Common Prosperity" study tour across east China's Zhejiang Province this week, gaining firsthand experience of China's technological advancements and cultural heritage.
Organized by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs ahead of the SCO summit 2025, which is scheduled to be held in Tianjin in the autumn, the program brought together delegates from Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Bahrain, and Qatar to study China's development model.
The itinerary blended immersion in the latest technologies with cultural exchange events. At an exchange seminar on Tuesday morning, attendees exchanged views and discussed topics such as Zhejiang's economic development and urban and rural education.
Participants visited Hangzhou's Dream Town innovation hub and leading IoT companies, where Egyptian music producer Sherif Zimaiti observed, "From the smart home and from factories, so I think that's what it is. It's just improving the general quality of life. So I'm saying in 10, 20 more years, it's going to be, wow, I can't wait to see what happens."
At the century-old Xiling Seal Art Society near West Lake, delegates took part in a traditional stone rubbing workshop. Bahraini sports official Yasmin Mufeed wrote an Arabic character "live" next to the seal of Chinese character "happy", together meaning "living joyfully," calling it a perfect cultural bridge.
"This kind of workshop is very helpful for communication and exchange idea, exchange culture," noted Qatari industrial engineer Abdulaziz Nasser Haddad.
Delegates praised the program for strengthening international ties between young people while providing deeper insight into China's socioeconomic progress.
"As a representative of Belarus, I am interested in every sector we visited. And we're eager to share our own cooperative project experiences as well," said Mikhail Grinchko, deputy director of the Department of Youth Affairs at Higher Education Institutions of Belarusian Youth Union.
The sentiment was echoed by Lin Quansheng, vice chairman of Myanmar's Shwe Than Lwin Group.
"My expectation is that we share our knowledge based on what we have studied in China, based on our own experiences, and that will allow us to grow even further and faster," he said.
The program will also feature a visit to the "Fengqiao Experience" exhibition in Shaoxing City, showcasing China's grassroots social governance model.
The dynamic discussions among the young SCO delegates is a testament to how future leaders are injecting fresh energy into regional cooperation through innovation and open dialogue.
Young people from SCO countries explore innovation, culture in Zhejiang tour
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance with higher standards and more concrete measures.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing.
Xi urged efforts to confine power to an institutional cage in a more well-conceived and effective manner, and press ahead with the anti-corruption fight with a clearer understanding and stronger resolve, thus providing a strong guarantee for achieving the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
Xi pointed out that in 2025, the CPC Central Committee had intensified efforts to improve Party conduct, uphold integrity and combat corruption, achieving notable results. Xi said efforts were made to maintain a tough stance against corruption and eradicate the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption.
Xi emphasized that implementing the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee is a fundamental requirement for upholding its authority and its centralized, unified leadership.
Party organizations at all levels and Party members and officials should implement the decisions and plans of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee with concrete actions, he said.
Xi noted that confining power to an institutional cage is an important task in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
He stressed that all are equal before the law and regulations, that compliance with them admits no privilege, and that enforcement of the law and regulations allows no exception.
Xi underscored that the fight against corruption is a major struggle that the Party cannot afford to lose, and must never lose.
He said that the current anti-corruption situation remains grave and complex, and that the task of eliminating the soil and conditions breeding corruption remains arduous. Xi added that it is essential to maintain a firm stance to leave corrupt officials with no place to hide.
Stressing the need to stay attuned to new trends and features of corruption, Xi urged efforts to innovate methods and approaches, promptly detect and accurately identify corrupt practices, and effectively address all forms of corruption, so as to continuously enhance the penetrating power of anti-corruption efforts.
He also urged strengthening coordination among all forms of oversight to advance integrated governance through whole-process collaboration, and called for sustained efforts to forge a loyal, upright and responsible disciplinary inspection and supervision force that dares to and is good at fighting against corruption.
Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, presided over the meeting. On Monday afternoon, on behalf of the standing committee of the CCDI, Li also delivered a work report.
Xi urges advancing Party self-governance with higher standards, more concrete measures
