Iran offers major proposals for enhanced ties among SCO members

30 October 2008

Tehran-First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi, currently in Astana, Kazakhstan, offered major proposals on Thursday to boost cooperation among the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's member states.

"Given their important political and geoeconomic position, the SCO member states can, by using massive existing opportunities for multilateral cooperation and convergence, promise a bright future for regional nations," Davoudi said in his address to the ongoing meeting of SCO prime ministers.

Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are the SCO member countries while Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan are its observer states.

"Given its strategic and principled policy on expansion of cooperation with regional and Asian countries, Iran has made constant efforts to promote cooperation and interaction with the SCO states," Davoudi said.

He referred to Iran's security, economic development, welfare, justice and energy (oil and gas) resources as main factors which can effectively help the SCO fulfill its objectives.

Davoudi added that Iran's geographical and historical closeness to the Central Asian states and the SCO's members was another major factor for promotion of ties with the organization's member states.

According to Davoudi enjoying rich cultural bonds, easy transportation facilities thanks to Iran's adjacent to the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf waters as well as the country's ability to transit goods and energy to international markets, were among other major factors helping Tehran's further cooperation with the SCO's member states.

He said that Iran's advanced technological know-how and its ability to offer services to the SCO's member states to promote their economic and social growth were other major capabilities of the country for broadening its ties and cooperation with the SCO's member states.

The Iranian official expressed hope that Tehran could strengthen its bilateral ties with the SCO's main and observer member states and could draw specific strategies aiming at expanding multilateral cooperation through setting up specific working groups.

The vice-president also proposed the SCO members and observers to establish a joint bank to reach an independent monetary system.

He stressed the need for finding common strategies to boost interaction between the organization's energy producers and consumers.

Davoudi also recommended the SCO to put expansion of cooperation with Iran at its agenda regarding the country's geostrategical position.

He voiced Iran's readiness to promote cultural ties with the SCO observer members with the aim of fighting against extremism and blind terrorism in the region.

Stressing that the current financial crisis in the world would have adverse consequences on regional countries, Davoudi said, "It is necessary to draw strategies to turn threats into opportunities.