Iran says ready to play more effective role in SCO

According to IRNA, he made the remarks in one of the panels of the 21st St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2017).

Regional cooperation is now a necessity because the world has changed and the SCO member-states need a louder voice to progress forward their goals, the minister added.

The official hailed the role of the SCO in establishment of peace in the world and its importance for promotion of trade in the region.

He underlined using SCO capacities for establishment of peace in the region.

Iran with a population of 80 million population is ready to increase economic cooperation with SCO countries, Vaezi said. 

He said that Iran was part of the Silk Road in the past and it can now play a more effective role within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Iran connected its railway to Turkmenistan and the Commonwealth of Nations states and it plans to connect its railroad to Azerbaijan Republic, Vaezi said while elaborating Iran progresses in transit.

He referred to presence of energy producing and consuming countries in the SCO and underlined best use of this opportunity.

In the panel, Veronika Nikishina, minister of trade of the Eurasian Economic Union briefed the participants about his Thursday meeting with Vaezi and the draft of a cooperation document which is going to be finalized soon.

The SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov and a number of top officials from the Eurasian Economic Union were present in the panel.

The 21st St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2017) opened late on Thursday.

Vaezi, also Minister of Communications and Information Technology, is heading the Iranian delegation in the three-day event.

Deputy Minister of Petroleum for International Affairs and Trading Amir-Hossein Zamaninia, Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Mohammad Khoddadi and Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mahdi Sanaei also attended the SPIEF 2017 public and special panels.

Holding talks with the officials and heads of the other countries’ delegations and explaining Iran’s views on the event’s topics are also on the Iranian officials’ agenda.

Over 12,000 people including the incumbent and former senior officials of the participating countries and the UN representative are also present in the ongoing event.

Reviewing major international economic and social challenges, Middle East situation, regional crises, future of the world and relations among the countries are of major topics to be discussed in the meeting, which is to be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.