Xi’an, Shaanxi, China — As a supporting organization, the Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF) facilitated the participation of 43 students and teachers from six ECO Member States: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the China–Central Asia Teenager Maker Camp and Teacher Workshop 2026, held in Xi’an, Shaanxi, China from October 14–20 under the theme “Empowering Central Asian Youth.” The ECO contingent joined more than 50 participants from six countries for youth science education, hands-on learning, teacher exchange, technological exposure and cultural interaction. The ECOSF delegation included Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Memon, Excutive Director, and Mr. Adnan Ali Abbasi, Manager (Accounts and Finance).

The Camp featured a diverse range of science, technology and cultural exchanges. ECOSF delegates and ECO participants visited the Xidian University Museum of Electronics and Information Technology visited the Museum on history of communication devices and created a signaling device., Northwest A&F University visited Gene Labs of Plant Protection College, discovered the history of Xi’an and ancient China in the Xi’an Museum and the Terracotta Warrior Site and each team created a mini terracotta warrior in a workshop. They also toured the Aerospace Museum at Northwestern Polytechnical University and assembled an aircraft model, visited the Qinling Panda Reserve Park, and took part in a cultural exchange at Xi’an Tieyi High School. Together, these visits provided participants with practical exposure to artificial intelligence, aerospace technologies, robotics, electronics, information technology and communication, natural sciences, environmental knowledge and cultural heritage.

During the Camp, a leaders’ meeting was hosted by Mr. Feng Shenhong, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), where leaders from China, the Central Asian states and ECOSF exchanged views on further strengthening cooperation and explored ways to learn from China’s experience of science, technology and innovation-led development. The meeting formed part of the broader China–Central Asia engagement under the Camp’s theme, and complemented the Camp’s practical activities.

On the sideline of the leaders meeting Executive Director ECOSF Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Memon had a meeting with Mr. Feng Shenhong, Vice Chairman, CAST. During the meeting Dr. Memon highlighted that ECOSF is the founding member of the BRISEC program and so far has facilitated over 1500 participants (Students, Teachers and policy makers) from ECO Region in the program. Mr. Feng while commending ECOSF facilitation and support, emphasized CAST willingness for more collaboration with ECOSF.

During the closing ceremony Dr. Memon in his remarks highlighted that “the greatest lesson of this camp is clear: innovation grows when curiosity meets collaboration. When young minds from different cultures learn and create together, they become not only better students, but also future scientists, innovators, and ambassadors of friendship”. He thanked the organizers CYSC, CAST and participating teachers of the region for guiding and inspiring the next generations.

The participation of ECOSF and the six ECO Member States strengthened the visibility of the ECO region within Belt and Road science education exchange and reinforced ECOSF’s role as a platform for regional cooperation in science, technology and innovation education. The programme also provided opportunities to explore future collaboration with CAST, CYSC, BRISEC and other international science education partners, particularly in AI, robotics, maker education, STEM and teachers’ capacity building.

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