Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced on November 13 that 15 countries have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue Forum. The inaugural edition of the event is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from November 20 to 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the forum on November 20. The event, which is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs, will be held at the historic Purana Qila monument. According to the Minister, the venue was chosen to offer delegates an opportunity to explore the site and gain insight into the region's 5,000-year history.
India has extended invitations to 25 countries, including all SCO member nations, partner countries, and observer states. Among the 15 nations that have confirmed their attendance are China, Kazakhstan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Sri Lanka. While the deadline has not closed, there has been no word from Islamabad regarding its participation.
India has invited Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, to the event. This marks the first such invitation extended to a senior Pakistani minister since the military hostilities in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent 'Operation Sindoor'. Minister Shekhawat stated he remains “hopeful” that Pakistan will confirm its attendance, noting that there should be no differences on the subject of shared civilisational and cultural development.
Following the inaugural ceremony, the forum will host four key sessions on November 21 and 22. These discussions will centre on themes such as civilisational and cultural expression, art and architecture, and language, literature, and manuscripts.
Key facts
- The forum will be held at the Purana Qila monument between November 20 and 22, 2026.
- Invitations were extended to 25 countries, with 15 currently confirmed to attend.
- Participating countries include China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
- The event is organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs.
- This is the first invitation to a senior Pakistani minister since the May 2025 border hostilities.
Why it matters
The forum is part of an effort by the Indian government to expand the SCO's scope beyond its traditional role as a geopolitical and economic platform. Minister Shekhawat stated that the aim is to establish the organisation as a space for shared civilisational heritage and human values, using culture as a tool to build bridges of trust between participating nations.
Background
The proposal for a civilisational dialogue was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO Heads of State summit held in Tianjin in September 2025. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh later formally announced that India would host the event while addressing the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Tajikistan last month.
Source: Indian Express, The Hindu
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