DUSHANBE, April 24, Asia-Plus - The fourth meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of council of culture ministers that opened in Dushanbe today morning has brought together senior representatives from culture ministries of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, according to the Ministry of Culture (MoC).

The source at a MoC said that during two days, they will consider issues related to cultural cooperation between member nations of the Organization for 2007-2008 and an SCO Arts Festival that will be held in the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek in June this year. 

The meeting will also discuss publication of an album entitled “Dialogue of Civilizations – review of Cultures of Member Nations of the SCO” and holding of a photo show formally titled “Pearls of Great Silk Route” and fourth international music festival “Melodies of East”.  

Cultural cooperation occurred in the SCO framework in 2002.  Culture ministers of the SCO met for the first time in Beijing on April 12 2002, signing at the same time a joint statement for continued cooperation.  The third meeting of the Culture Ministers took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on April 27-28 2006.  

An SCO Arts Festival and Exhibition was held for the first time during the Astana, Kazakhstan, Summit of 2005.   A second Arts Festival and Exhibition took place in Shanghai in June 2006.  Kazakhstan has also suggested an SCO folk dance festival to take place in Astana, in 2008.