Iran Press/ Iran News: Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Zhang Ming met and conferred on the latest international developments including ways to end the Ukraine conflict.
The top Iranian diplomat expressed gratitude for the efforts by the SCO secretary general and his secretariat to facilitate Iran’s permanent membership in the Central Asian organization.
According to Amir-Abdollahian, the Islamic Republic believes that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can play a key role in new international security and economic arrangements and that the promotion of economic cooperation helps boost lasting security.
Zhang Ming also met with Ali Bagheri, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs.
In the meeting, Bagheri described the SCO as an institution for cooperation between independent and powerful countries. He added that the voice of multilateralism is being heard by international bodies more than ever before. Bagheri said the multilateral approach of the SCO shows that the organization is not a ceremonial body but aims to meet urgent security and political need.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs maintained that the difference between the SCO and many Western bodies is that the former was formed following a decision by independent nations and based on respect for the independence and sovereignty of countries, and is a justice-based body. Hence, Bagheri noted, the SCO can offer lasting solutions to international issues and problems.
The secretary general of the SCO for his part thanked Iran for providing an opportunity for this meeting, saying, “I fully approve of your view about the SCO. Iran is an influential country in the region and the whole world, and has constantly had an active presence in the SCO’s meetings in the past years." Zhang added Iran’s view to the organization is strategic and given this view, “we have pursued the issue of Tehran’s accession to the body with seriousness."
He underlined that the SCO provides a platform for cooperation between independent countries and that it has made successful efforts in political, security, economic, and cultural areas.
211
