TEHRAN - On Wednesday night, Iran signed a memorandum of commitments in the path to fully join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).They were signed between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming in Samarkand, Uzbekistan."Tonight, in the historical city of Samarkand, I signed the memorandum of commitments of the Islamic Republic of Iran's permanent membership at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with the secretary-general," Amir Abdollahian tweeted."Now, we have entered a new stage of diverse economic, commercial, transit, energy, and cooperation," he added.The SCO secretary general praised Irans steps to join the bloc, saying, Today is an important and determining day for the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, thereby I congratulate Iranian friends and colleagues and also my colleagues in the organization.Zhang added Iran as a stable, secure and powerful country is important for the SCO.
He also said Irans accession to the SCO will strengthen the organization.The commitments were signed before the SCO summit officially begins in Uzbekistan, the current chair of the organization.Amir Abdollahian is accompanying President Raisi who flew to Samarkand, the venue of the summit.The summit, which officially began on Thursday and lasts until Friday, brings certain heads of states, including the Chinese and Russian leaders.Iran and the organization started a formal process for Tehrans accession to the bloc in March.
Iran's membership in the body was later approved by the Iranian administration.
On Wednesday, government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi said the draft legislation outlining Iran's membership in the organization had been submitted to the Iranian parliament for approval.The SCO was initially founded by China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in 2001.
Currently it has eight official members, including Pakistan and India.
Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have an observer status, and six countries Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka have a dialogue partner status.The main goals ofthe SCO are strengthening mutual confidence and good-neighborly relations amongthe member countries; promoting effective cooperation inpolitics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture aswell aseducation, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields; making joint efforts tomaintain and ensure peace, security and stability inthe region, moving towardsthe establishment ofa new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order.It also pursues its internal policy based onthe principles ofmutual trust, mutual benefit, equal rights, consultations, respect forthe diversity ofcultures and aspiration towardscommon development.
Its external policy is also conducted inaccordance withthe principles ofnon-alignment, non-targeting anyone and openness.