Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the virtual Shangai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Tuesday, said Iran was going to join as a new member of the organisation. Modi also welcomed the signing of a memorandum on Belarus’ commitment to SCO membership, as reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.
“I am happy that Iran is going to join the SCO family as a new member today. In this regard, I extend my best wishes to President Ebrahim Raisi and the people of Iran. We also welcome the signing of the memorandum ‘Membership in the SCO’ on commitments for Belarus”
In turn, the Iranian leader addressed the audience with words of gratitude.
“We appreciate very much the warm words of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his efforts to hold this summit. I take this opportunity to express our gratitude on behalf of the government and people of Iran for accepting the Islamic Republic of Iran as a full member of the SCO,” said Ebrahim Raisi.
Iran intended to join the alliance 15 years ago, but the SCO follows a strict admission procedure.
At the meeting, SCO leaders signed a joint New Delhi declaration, said the organisation’s secretariat.
“Over the past two decades, the SCO has emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development across the Eurasian region. India’s thousands of years of cultural and people-to-people ties with the region is a living testimony of our common heritage,” stressed Modi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other leaders participated in the virtual meeting.
Modi said India had made efforts to take the multifaceted cooperation with the SCO to a new level.
He said security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and environmental protection were pillars of India’s vision for the SCO.
African Times published the articles in partnership with TV BRICS, an international media network. https://tvbrics.com/en/news/iran-officially-becomes-a-full-member-of-the-sco/
