The main goal of the meeting of
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries in Almaty is to enhance
sports and tourism potential. At Kazakhstan's initiative, a Joint Action Plan
in the field of tourism for 2024-2025 has been developed and adopted,
containing around 20 jointly formed activities. The document encompasses a wide
range of measures aimed at improving infrastructure, stimulating tourist
demand, enhancing visitor services, and promoting tourism routes across the
region. Each country makes its contribution by offering unique tourism
opportunities and resources.
“The International University of
Tourism and Hospitality, located in the spiritual tourism capital of the Turkic
world, in the city of Turkistan, operates under the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism
and Sports. In the upcoming academic year, we are ready to prioritize the
admission of two representatives from each country. I believe that our
initiative will contribute to strengthening international cooperation. Within
the SCO framework, the project Cultural and Tourism Capital of the SCO is being
successfully implemented. Almaty is ready to pass on this status to the next
city. On our part, we support China’s Qingdao as the candidate city to obtain
the status of the SCO Cultural and Tourism Capital,” Kazakh Minister of Tourism
and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev said.
In his address, Yermek
Marzhikpayev noted that sports is one of the key areas of cooperation within
the SCO.
“At today’s meeting, we have a
unique opportunity to share our experience and vision for the further
development of physical education and sports. Together, we are shaping the
sports agenda not only within the organization but also on a global scale,” Marzhikpayev
added.
According to Iranian Sports and
Youth Minister Kioumars Hashemi, boosting sports within the SCO presents an
excellent opportunity for cultural exchanges, the development and promotion of
high-performance sports, and the advancement of local and national sports.
“We had a very productive
meeting with Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev,
especially considering that a memorandum of cooperation has been signed between
Iran and Kazakhstan. In this regard, we will leverage Kazakhstan’s sporting
capabilities in disciplines such as golf, equestrian sports, boxing, and
cycling to develop and promote these sports in Iran. In turn, Iran will assist
the Kazakh side in wrestling, taekwondo, and karate. Additionally, Iran will
participate in the World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan across six disciplines. It
was decided that Iranian cycling teams will take part in the Kazakh league, and
the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to introduce the sport of
Zurkhane, which we will support and assist with. Overall, we view the
enhancement of sports within the framework of the SCO as an excellent
opportunity for cultural exchanges, the development and promotion of
high-performance sports, and the advancement of local and national sports of
member states. We have long-term and corresponding programs for its gradual
expansion. At this session, we proposed holding futsal matches between
countries and hosting a meeting of Sports Ministers in 2026, which has been
included in the agenda of the ministers’ meeting. I would like to express my
gratitude for the warm and wonderful hospitality extended by Kazakhstan. The
program prepared for this meeting was planned taking into account the views of
all participants. This marks a good beginning for long-term cooperation among
SCO member states,” Hashemi said.
Kazakhstan has established a
visa-free regime with almost all SCO member states. According to statistics,
citizens of the SCO countries account for 62 percent of the flow of foreign
tourists to Kazakhstan. During the meeting, Marzhikpayev held bilateral talks
with the heads of relevant ministries from China, Iran, and Russia. He
discussed cooperation between the two countries in the development of sports
science with Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, and issues of
cooperation and participation in the 2025 Asian Winter Games with China’s
sports minister Gao Zhidan. Following the SCO meeting in Almaty, a Joint Action
Plan in the field of tourism for 2024-2025 was signed.
“From September 8 to 13 of this
year, Kazakhstan will host the fifth World Nomad Games. This is a major tourism
event, which will gather over 100,000 tourists in the Kazakh capital. I extend
an invitation to you to visit Astana and experience firsthand the realization
of this unique project,” Marzhikpayev remarked.
