Iran’s attendance in SCO summit at presidential level signifies Iran’s look to the East policy in seeking strategic partnership with China and Russia that, according to the official literature, can bear political and economic achievements for the country.
Iran has had an observer status since 2005 and has been seeking to retain permanent membership in the organization which has seen a high level of cooperation in all fields among members.
This year’s summit is held on September 16-17 in Dushanbe, will be attended by leaders of SCO member states as well as Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members, and has the agenda on the fight against the coronavirus, Afghanistan, fighting climate change and trading.
SCO has currently eight permanent members, including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia have observer status in this organization.
Also, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey are in the position of dialogue partner which was created in 2008. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Common-wealth Independent States (CIS), Turkmenistan, and the United Nations are other guests of the summit, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of SCO establishment.
President Emomali Rahmon whose country – Tajikistan – hosts this year’s edition of the summit said that the main axis of the meeting would be strengthening of potential international position of the organization.
He also pointed to expanding trading during the coronavirus pandemic, fighting terrorism and cybercrimes, and preventing expansion of extremist ideologies.
Given the recent developments in Afghanistan, the issue is expected to be on the agenda in the summit and in defense ministers meeting.
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