DUSHANBE — Premier Li Keqiang called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states to strengthen people-to-people exchanges for an enhanced public support for SCO cooperation on Oct 12.

Premier Li made the proposal while attending the 17th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government being held in the Tajik capital city of Dushanbe.

The Premier suggested SCO member states to carry out healthcare cooperation through platforms of the SCO hospital alliance as well as the international medical center in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Medical services can be provided through tele-communication, Premier Li said when stressing the important role of people-to-people and cultural exchanges in strengthening the public support for the SCO development.

Besides healthcare, Premier Li proposed to step up cooperation in such fields as education, environmental protection, sports, tourism and youth exchanges.

Urging to strengthen the construction of SCO University, the Premier noted that SCO member states can foster talents together in nanotechnology, information technology, ecology and other fields.

Premier Li also called for the implementation of the SCO concept on environmental protection with detailed plans to promote green development of SCO countries.

Meanwhile, communication mechanisms on disaster prevention should be improved to provide in-time prediction and information, Premier Li said, adding that personnel training and cooperation on disaster prevention should be carried out through scientific and technological approaches.

The Chinese side will continue to ensure the success of pivot programs including the SCO Youth Campus, Premier Li said, while proposing to institutionalize women’s forum and media summit of the organization.