Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu attended the meeting chaired by his Russian counterpart Alexander Avdeyev, along with ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Representatives from Iran, India and Mongolia also attended the meeting as observers.

The culture ministers reached consensus that tangible actions should be taken to strengthen practical cooperation and intensify youth’s role in preserving and developing fine cultural traditions and national legacies.

Cai also held bilateral talks and exchanged views on the development of cultural relations with representatives from Russia, India and Mongolia on the sidelines of the conference.

The next SCO culture ministers’ meeting is slated for April 2010 in the Chinese province of Hainan.