Iran Press/Iran News: The attendance of Iranian first Vice President in this meeting, provides another opportunity to clarify the views and positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the most important regional and international issues and the need to strengthen the cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an international intergovernmental organization established on 15 June 2001 in the port city of Shanghai by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
At the Tashkent Summit in 2016, representatives of India and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join as permanent members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and at the 17th Summit in Kazakhstan, the two countries were accepted as full members of the Organization; It should be mentioned that the Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Belarus are observer members of this organization.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization's role is important in two respects:
In one respect, this organization is the opposite point of unilateralism and threats to the countries in the region. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an organization opposed to NATO, and the main reason for its formation is to oppose possible US intervention in major countries such as China and Russia or making the military conflict in the region.
On the other hand, SCO as a powerful organization in the regional relations has been able to create a model based on "comprehensive strategic partnership."
In this context, the expansion of economic cooperation, especially in the energy sector, is another important objective of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Issues such as the proliferation of extremist and terrorist groups in West Asia and the urgent need for economic development and energy security have drawn greater attention to the functions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Iranian Vice President delivering a speech at the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Iran's Strategic Position for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States
In this regard, the position of Iran for the Shanghai member states is of strategic importance in the geography of the region.
Central Asian and Caucasian expert Kuzegar Kalaji, referring to the diverse cooperation among the members of the SCO and the role of Iran in this organization, says: This organization includes a diverse range of partnerships in the political, economic, cultural and social fields. For instance, on security issues, fighting against terrorism, separatism, religious extremism, and drug trafficking can be mentioned. And in the economic field, there are issues such as energy, customs, and transit that have been cooperated so far.
Iran's presence, even in the status of an observer state, has included a diverse range of partnerships which in case of shifting to full membership this partnership and cooperation would definitely increase. At present, major countries such as Russia and China, which are Shanghai founding members, have strategic relations with Iran. Iran has now joined the Eurasian Economic Community by establishing a free zone within the framework of a trade agreement and has expanded its cooperation with the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Shanghai Summit in Bishkek last June, emphasized: Expanding Iran-China cooperation will benefit not only the two countries but also the development of world peace and security.
The Shanghai Organization has created significant opportunities for the development of trade-economic cooperation in the region that should be used and move forward through its capacity.
From this perspective, the presence of the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 18th meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent is an opportunity to strengthen these cooperations. 101/219
Article by: Jamshid Amin Zadeh
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