The SCO is “very impactful and effective in the sense that it can represent the interests and concerns of the Global South,” Esmaeil Baghaei told Xinhua in an exclusive interview, ahead of the 25th SCO summit held from Sunday to Monday in Tianjin, China.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is in China, at the head of a high-ranking delegation, to attend the SCO summit and participate in events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in China’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Regarding the Iranian president’s visit to China, Baghaei stated that the trip would be used to promote “bilateral ties with China and to hold meetings with other leaders of the participating states.”
Baghaei pointed out that the world is currently confronting shared challenges resulting from “unilateralism and coercive measures that certain Western countries, in particular the United States, have been applying against developing states.”
He further stated that the SCO is positioned to be a major force in providing an effective framework for cooperation among Global South countries, guaranteeing the interests of developing countries, and ensuring the continuity of an international order that is based on multilateralism, the rule of law, and “the normative structures coming from the United Nations Charter.”
The Iranian senior diplomat emphasized the shared historical bond of culture and civilization between Iran and China, noting that their relationship continues to progress as mutual understanding and trust increase.
“It is a constantly flourishing relationship. We value our relationship with China,” he underscored.
He also noted that the two nations have signed a multitude of agreements spanning trade, economy, energy, agriculture, and tourism.
Expressing optimism for the future, he added that “the basis of our bilateral relations is very solid, and the two nations are resolved to continue their excellent bilateral relations.”
Businesses and governments in the SCO space are increasingly willing to engage with Iran despite sanctions, especially when those engagements are insulated by multilateral support or involve non-dollar settlement structures.
Iran’s engagement with the SCO is emblematic of a broader strategic recalibration away from a Western-centric economic model towards a multi-polar, Asian-focused paradigm.
Founded in 2001, the SCO is a political and security alliance comprising ten members, including China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
Press TV