The 2025 Silk Way Star International Music Contest, the first music project to unite singers from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and China, officially launched Monday at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on People-to-People Exchange.
Jointly created by China Media Group (CMG) and the Kazakhstan President's TV and Radio Complex, the program began recording on Aug 20 in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital.
The competition will feature artists from 12 countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and South Korea.
Representing China is Zhang Hexuan, a singer who reached the top 16 in the hit TV show "Sing! China". Among the first to arrive in Astana, Zhang is now immersed in preparations-practicing vocals, learning new dance moves, and coordinating outfits with stylists. For his performance, he has chosen a traditional Kazakh song, blending cultural tribute with personal flair.
"I hope to bring Chinese pop music to friends in Kazakhstan," said Zhang.
According to the organizers of Silk Way Star, the competition aims to spotlight talented artists who serve as ambassadors of culture, peace, and music -- building bridges between nations through melody and meaning.
For Zhang Hexuan, Silk Way Star is more than a contest. It's a chance to connect with artists from across the region and dive into a vibrant exchange of cultures and creativity.
"On Silk Way Star, I certainly hope to achieve great results, but more importantly, I look forward to exchanging ideas with music lovers from different countries," said Zhang.
The program is set to air on Sept 20 on Silk Way TV channel and CMG's channel CCTV-3, with an estimated total viewership of over one billion.
The 2025 SCO Forum on People-to-People Exchange, co-hosted by CMG and the SCO Secretariat, was held in Beijing on Monday, ahead of the SCO Summit to be held in Tianjin from Aug 31 to Sept 1.
Apart from the launch of the 2025 Silk Way Star international music contest, a number of senior officials jointly launched the SCO Media Cooperation Mechanism and released the Initiative on the Establishment of the SCO Media Cooperation Mechanism at the event.
Silk Way Star music contest launches at SCO forum
Silk Way Star music contest launches at SCO forum
