Uttar Pardesh’s Varanasi nominated as first SCO tourism, cultural capital

Uttar Pardesh’s Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) tourism and cultural capital.

Uttar Pardesh’s Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) tourism and cultural capital during 2022-2023.

The nomination was announced at the 22nd meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Samarkand of Uzbekistan on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO tourism and cultural capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchange between India and the SCO member countries. It also underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with the member states of SCO, especially the Central Asian republics.

Under the framework of this major cultural outreach programme, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during 2022-23, for which guests will be invited to participate from the SCO member states. These events are expected to attract Indologists, scholars, authors, musicians and artists, photojournalists, travel bloggers, and other invited guests.