The oldest living city in the world ‘Varanasi’, is declared as the first ‘Cultural and Tourism Capital’ of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for 2022-23. The city goes by several names like Benaras or Kashi.
This new initiative is taken under SCO, where a ‘Cultural, Tourism Capital’ will be announced amongst the member countries for 1 year on rotation basis. Under this initiative, each year a city of the cultural heritage of a member-country that will take over the rotating presidency of the organisation. This new initiative will also promote cultural ties and tourism amongst the member countries of SCO.
Since India is to host the SCO Head of the State summit next year and assume presidency for 2022-23.
As per report, Zhang Ming, the Secretary General of the bloc informed. SCO is an eight-member organisation which looks after the economic and security welfare of countries like China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India, Iran has been accepted as the ninth full member Shanghai Cooperation organisation.
Iran has been accepted as the 9th full member of SCO. It will formally join SCO at its 22nd summit which is to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September 2022. Belarus has also applied for membership. Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia states is seen interested in acceding the full states.
