SCO members discuss cooperation in Astana civilizational dialogue

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation among civilizations at its 2024 Inter-Civilizational Dialogue held in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana on Thursday

More than 130 representatives from the eight SCO member countries attended the event, engaging in in-depth discussions around the theme of "Building a Bridge of Dialogue and Cooperation among SCO Civilizations, Promoting the Development and Progress of Human Civilization".

Participants hailed the event as a crucial platform for civilizational exchange and mutual learning.

Telecom companies from around the globe on Wednesday convened at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2024 to explore partnerships with Chinese firms, particularly in the booming area of 5G technology.

For executives, the conference offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into China's 5G advancements, and position their companies in the next generation of connectivity.

After having traveled for over 30 hours to the event, Patricio Olivares, a senior executive of telecom giant Claro Chile, emphasized the importance of securing new partnerships at the exhibition.

"I came from Chile, very far away from here. This trip is very important for our company because two weeks ago we won the 5G spectrum. We believe that China boasts the most technology. That's why we are here," he said.

Olivares has set a packed schedule; visiting a 5G factory in Nanjing upon arrival, attending the ongoing exhibition in Shanghai, and then plans to cap off his trip in south China's tech hub of Shenzhen.

"AI is extremely important. We have seen many things related to AI. (We are) really happy with Chinese technology," he said.

Exhibitors pointed to China's booming communication technology and a more robust industrial chain as key factors driving the surge in visitor attendance.

Lara Dewar, the chief marketing officer of GSMA, one of the organizers of the MWC, said China is a front-runner in 5G application, and its experience benefits other countries.

"There are thousands of use-cases of 5G coming out of China. We see a tremendous amount of cooperation and the sharing is hugely beneficial to everybody," she said.

The three-day WMC conference, which closes Friday, is expected to generate billions of dollars in contracts and solidify China's position as a major player in the global telecommunications industry.