"I am happy that today Iran is going to join the SCO family as a new member," Modi said while addressing the SCO online summit in India on Tuesday.
"I extend my congratulations to President [Ebrahim] Raisi and the people of Iran on this occasion," he said.
"Strong connectivity is crucial for the progress of any region. Better connectivity not only enhances mutual trade but also fosters mutual trust. However, in these efforts, it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and regional integrity of the Member States. Following Iran's membership in the SCO, we can work towards maximizing the utilization of the Chabahar Port," said the Indian PM while referring to India's investment in a port located in southeast Iran on the Sea of Oman.
"The International North-South Transport Corridor can serve as a secure and efficient route for landlocked countries in Central Asia to access the Indian Ocean. We should strive to realize its full potential," Modi stressed.
Meanwhile, Russia's Putin also said on Tuesday that Iran's accession to the SCO increases the potentials of the organization.
Iranian President Raisi participated in a virtual summit of the SCO in India as the bloc is to officially welcome Iran's accession.
The 23rd SCO summit kicked off on Tuesday through a video conference in India.
This is the first time that Iran takes part in the SCO summit as a full member of the organization.
Iran’s application to join the SCO as a full member was confirmed by member states of the bloc two years ago and the technical process for accepting the membership bid was approved a year ago at the 22nd SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
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