Iran, one of India's neighbours in its surrounding backyard, has formally joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who essentially presided over the SCO Summit on Tuesday, said that Iran will become a new member of the organisation and hailed the signing of the Memorandum of Obligation for Belarus' SCO membership, news agencu ANI reported.
"I am happy that today Iran is going to join the SCO family as a new member. For this, I convey my best wishes to President Ebrahim Raisi and the people of Iran. Also, we welcome the signing of the memorandum of obligation for Belarus' SCO membership," PM Modi was quoted by ANI in its report.
Iran first demanded membership in the alliance 15 years ago. Admission to SCO is a difficult procedure.
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced in 2021 that it has become the SCO's ninth member.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran becomes 9th member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. At the end of the 21st Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, the leaders of the eight main members of the organisation agreed to change the membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran from an observer member to a full member and signed the relevant documents," the ministry said in a release.
Earlier in May, an official stated that the SCO's observer nations, Iran and Belarus, might soon become full-time members of the charter, as the matter is now being considered.
PM Modi highlighted in his virtual speech to the 23rd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State that numerous new forums, including the Young Scientist Conclave, Authors Conclave, Startup Forum, and Youth Council, had been organised to tap the creativity of SCO youth.
"Over the past two decades, the SCO has emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development in the entire Eurasia region. India's thousands of years old cultural and people-to-people ties with this region are living testimony to our shared heritage," he said.