Varanasi: First ‘Cultural and Tourism capital of SCO’

Context

Varanasi City is all set to be declared as the “first Cultural and Tourism Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)”.

Key-points

• Varanasi has been showcasing the culture and tradition of India for ages.
• It will become the cultural and tourism capital of the SCO for the year 2022-23, as a part of SCO’s new rotating initiative that seeks to promote people-to-people ties and tourism among member countries.
• Under the initiative, a city of cultural heritage from member states will be designated as the cultural and tourism capital of SCO each year. 
• Varanasi has become the first city to get the title.
• City will be selected from a member country, which will take over the Presidency of SCO on a rotational basis.
• Title will be given to cities in a bid to highlight its prominence.
  

When will this initiative be implemented?

• The new initiative of the organisation will be implemented after the Samarkand Summit 2022. 
• The Samarkand Summit of SCO is scheduled to be held at Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 15-16 2022. 
• After this initiative, India is set to take over SCO’s Presidency and will host the next Heads of the State summit. 
• This is why Varanasi has won the title of first Cultural and Tourism Capital of the SCO.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and security alliance. 
• It is the successor of Shanghai Five, which was established in 1996. 
• The Formation of SCO was announced on June 15, 2001. 
• Following this, the SCO Charter was inked on July 7, 2002 which came into effect on September 19, 2003. 
• Membership of SCO has expanded to 8 countries now, viz., China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, India and Pakistan. 
• India and Pakistan got membership on June 9, 2017.