Iranian President Goes to China for SCO Summit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian traveled to China on Sunday to attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Pezeshkian is scheduled to attend the SCO summit and the SCO Plus meeting, where he will deliver speeches and hold discussions with top officials from China, Russia, and other participating nations.

The Iranian president will also take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, also known as the Victory Day Parade.

Speaking to reporters before departing Tehran on Sunday morning, Pezeshkian described the event as a historic opportunity to enhance multilateralism, foster economic and cultural cooperation, and promote regional and global peace and security.

He noted that Iran's participation in the framework is a concerted effort to strengthen multilateralism in contrast to the unilateralism and hegemonic pursuits of certain Western blocs, his official website reported.

The president highlighted a diverse agenda during the summit, saying that in addition to attending the main session with permanent members of the organization, there will be meetings with observer countries as well.

Constructive dialogues with presidents, prime ministers, and other high-ranking officials are on the agenda, he said, noting that these interactions present a valuable opportunity to align perspectives in scientific, economic, cultural, political, and security domains.

Pezeshkian also addressed the diplomatic dimensions of the trip, which includes meetings with President of China Xi Jinping and other prominent leaders from the member states.

He expressed hope that the discussions and meetings would contribute to enhancing peace and security in the region and the world, as well as improving the development and welfare of the nations.

Such interactions undoubtedly lay the groundwork for peaceful coexistence and constructive cooperation on the international stage, the Iranian president concluded.

China’s Tianjin is hosting the 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on August 31 and September 1. It is the fifth time that the annual SCO summit is held in China.