The 15th meeting of culture ministers from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, is being held in Sanya, Hainan province. The meeting promotes cultural exchanges among member states, and is part of preparations for the upcoming SCO summit in China's Qingdao next month. Liu Xinqing has more.

Group photo, handshakes, and candid discussions. The 15th meeting of culture ministers from SCO member states takes place in Sanya, Hainan province -- a place that is itself blessed with great cultural diversity. The meeting under the SCO framework is an important occasion for promoting cultural cooperation among its members.

LUO SHUGANG CHINESE MINISTER OF CULTURE "All member states have acted to boost cooperation and exchanges, and enhance better understanding among the peoples (of the organization). This framework has become an example for strengthening cooperation and mutual support."

SCO member states act as close neighbors, and this organization has set an example for regional cooperation by bringing these countries even closer together.

VLADIMIR ARISTARHOV RUSSIAN VICE MINISTER OF CULTURE "The SCO platform has promoted closer cultural exchanges among all member states and in particular has enabled Russian people to better understand the culture of other member states. Russia has a great culture that it wants to share with the rest of the world through this platform."

SCO member states account for a huge amount of the world's population and represent wide culture diversity. Respecting this, while promoting coexistence and the blossoming of different cultures, is an important focus of the meeting.

LIU XINQING SANYA, HAINAN "The culture ministers' meeting takes place every year ahead of the main SCO summit. Officials meet to discuss what's been achieved over the past 12 months, and propose steps to take for the coming year."

India and Pakistan are new members to this organization, making this their first time being represented at the culture ministers' meeting. They come with great expectations and confidence.

MAHESH SHARMA INDIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE "SCO is one of the most participated (organization), making up 40 percent of the world's population and more than 20 percent of the GDP share and in that share I think the role of China and India is more important in the field of tourism, in the field of manufacturing, we are the future market of the world."

SHAHERA SHAHID, DIRECTOR GENERAL PAKISTAN'S MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, BROADCASTING & NAT'L HERITAGE "We are very happy to be included in the SCO, because we think that through this relationship that we have with China, we can now come closer to the regional countries and from there, the SCO can become the voice of the region."

The meeting has seen the approval of a guideline for cultural exchanges, covering the period of 2018 to 2020. All parties agree that culture is an important component of soft power, and that this is key in fostering positive relations across the board. Liu Xinqing, CGTN, Sanya, Hainan province.