Public Diplomacy Forum Mutual Understanding for Development.

The SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) held its second Public Diplomacy Forum on 11 May 2022, in Tashkent. The event took place in a hybrid format, with participants joining both physically and online. The event was held under the framework of Uzbekistan's chairmanship in the SCO with the theme "Public Diplomacy - Mutual Understanding for the Sake of Development". It was organized by the SCO Centre for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan, along with the Senate of Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conference attracted an audience including leaders and representatives of parliaments of the SCO member states, international organizations, non-state

structures, and scientific and analytical centers. Pakistan was represented by the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies- IPDS at this important forum. SCO Centre for Public Diplomacy The forum seeks to achieve aims including strengthening interstate and interregional contact and supporting interethnic, interfaith, and inter-civilizational harmony and dialogue. Likewise, it aims to develop mutual trust and friendship among the SCO states by employing the best practices of public diplomacy. Another idea driving the forum is to use the potential of NGOs to provide an incentive for integration processes

within the SCO and expand cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including in science, education, culture, sports, tourism, and city-to-city cooperation. The initiative was presented by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan at the Astana Summit in 2017. The first such forum was organized in 2021 at the initiative of President Xi Jinping, which took place in Wuhan. Agenda of the Event The forum comprised of two plenary sessions: "Role of Public Diplomacy in International Cooperation" and "People's Diplomacy-an Important Element of Modern Interstate Communication: Experience of SCO Member States," held on 11 and 12 May respectively.

The second session was held to discuss the promotion of people-to-people ties among SCO countries and the relevance of public diplomacy in the contemporary world. The event focused on the enhancement of development and humanitarian ties through public diplomacy. It sought to create a friendly environment for people-to-people interaction, focusing on civil society institutions, youth, and women's organizations. In addition, the event included discussions on the role of inter-parliamentary ties, non-governmental organizations, and public organizations in maintaining peace and harmony. During the event, the participants discussed the experiences, features...