Universities discuss educational collaboration under the SCO framework at the conference.

The 2025 Annual Conference of Shanghai Cooperation Organization University (SCO University) was held on May 12 in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) as the Chinese Presidential Office of the SCO University, the event brought together representatives from 86 universities across seven countries, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, to discuss major plans for educational collaboration under the SCO framework.

Shri Janesh Kain, deputy secretary-general of SCO, emphasized that the university, a pivotal platform for regional educational cooperation, has cultivated a large pool of high-quality talents for regional development.

By innovating teaching models to enhance academic exchanges, utilizing online education to improve accessibility, and advancing key initiatives such as the establishment of a digital education portal, SCO University has demonstrated its value as a regional education platform.

Zhang Liqun, president of XJTU and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, unveiled the SCO University Digital Education Development Plan, which outlines its formulation background, strategic significance, overarching goals, key tasks, implementation pathways, and supporting measures.

The 9th Meeting of Education Ministers of SCO Member States was also held on May 13 in Urumqi. Zhang, representing the Chinese Presidential Office of SCO University, presented the SCO University Digital Education Development Plan and reported on the 15th Education Week of the SCO Member States, "Education without Borders".

Zhang also inaugurated the SCO Digital Education Alliance and the China-SCO Doctoral Talent Cultivation and Innovation Center.