BEIJING — Vice-Premier Liu Yandong met with new Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), calling for more cooperation in culture.

Tajik diplomat Rashid Olimov became SCO Secretary-General on Jan 1, replacing Dmitry Mezentsev. Olimov served as ambassador to China from 2005 to 2015.

“Cultural cooperation is one of the three pillars for the development of the SCO. China will support the work of the Secretary-General and promote cultural cooperation within the organization,” Liu said.

Olimov said the SCO secretariat is willing to work with all parties to implement the consensus of member states’ leaders and facilitate productive cooperation within the organization.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It also includes Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers.