Military Diplomacy

[Bilingual] Ministry of National Defense Hosts the 2nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers' Exchange Activity

【双语】中国国防部举办第二届上海合作组织中青年军官交流活动

PLA Daily (解放军报) 25 June 2026

Summary

From June 25 to July 1, the Ministry of National Defense is hosting the 2nd SCO Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers' Exchange Activity, organized by the National University of Defense Technology and drawing junior officers and defense officials from SCO member states, observer states, dialogue partners, and the SCO Secretariat, with programming centered on lectures, seminars, and site visits. The event documents China's use of NUDT as an institutional vehicle for multilateral military socialization within the SCO framework, extending a pattern in which PLA-affiliated academic institutions host foreign junior officers to build long-term professional relationships before those officers reach senior command positions. The second iteration of this format confirms it has moved from pilot to recurring program, raising the question of how participation breadth and country composition have shifted since the first exchange.

Translation

Ministry of National Defense Hosts the 2nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers' Exchange Activity MND Will Host the 2nd SCO Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers' Exchange

On the afternoon of June 25, the Ministry of National Defense held its regular press conference, at which Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang answered questions from reporters.

Zhang Xiaogang: From June 25 to July 1, the Ministry of National Defense is hosting the 2nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers' Exchange Activity, inviting junior-and-middle-level officers and defense officials from SCO member states, observer states, dialogue partners, and relevant countries, as well as representatives from the SCO Secretariat, to participate. This activity is organized by the National University of Defense Technology, with the theme "SCO Youth Together, Jointly Building a Secure Future" (上合青年同行，共筑安全未来). It will carry out activities including thematic lectures, seminars and exchanges, and visits and tours. It aims to deepen the foundations of friendship, build consensus on cooperation, and actively promote high-quality development of SCO defense and security cooperation that is more united (更加团结), more collaborative (更重协作), more dynamic (更富活力), and more capable of achieving results (更有作为).

Zhang Xiaogang: The MND will host the 2nd SCO Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers' Exchange from June 25 to July 1. The event will bring together junior-and-middle-level officers and defense officials from SCO member states, observer states, dialogue partners and relevant countries, as well as representatives from the SCO Secretariat. Themed "SCO Youth Together for a Safe Future", the activity will be organized by the PLA National University of Defense Technology, and include such activities as themed lectures, seminars and discussions, and visits. It aims to consolidate friendship, build consensus on cooperation, and actively promote high-quality development of SCO defense and security cooperation featuring greater solidarity, coordination, vitality and influence.

Original Chinese

中国国防部举办第二届上海合作组织中青年军官交流活动 MND Will Host the 2nd SCO Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers’ Exchange 6月25日下午，国防部举行例行记者会，国防部新闻发言人张晓刚大校答记者问。张晓刚：6月25日至7月1日，中国国防部举办第二届上海合作组织中青年军官交流活动，邀请上合组织成员国、观察员国、对话伙伴和相关国家中青年军官、防务官员，以及上合组织秘书处代表参加。此次活动由国防科技大学承办，主题为“上合青年同行，共筑安全未来”，开展专题讲座、研讨交流和参观访问等活动，旨在厚植友好根基、凝聚合作共识，积极推动上合组织防务安全合作实现更加团结、更重协作、更富活力、更有作为的高质量发展。 Zhang Xiaogang:The MND will host the 2nd SCO Junior-and-Middle-Level Officers’ Exchange from June 25 to July 1. The event will bring together junior-and-middle-level officers and defense officials from SCO member states, observer states, dialogue partners and relevant countries, as well as representatives from the SCO Secretariat. Themed “SCO Youth Together for a Safe Future”, the activity will be organized by the PLA National University of Defense Technology, and include such activities as themed lectures, seminars and discussions, and visits. It aims to consolidate friendship, build consensus on cooperation, and actively promote high-quality development of SCO defense and security cooperation featuring greater solidarity, coordination, vitality and influence.