Iran's First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref called Tuesday July 5 for deepening mutual relations with China as well as regional and international cooperation with the country due to its special place in Iran's foreign policy.
Aref, who arrived in the Kazakh capital Astana Monday evening to attend an international conference of the heads of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The meeting took place prior to the SCO conference in the Kazakh capital.
Aref appreciating Beijing's support for Tehran's membership in the SCO, said that working with the body would help find a solution for regional and international problems including drug trafficking, terrorism and other issues.
The Chinese president, for his part, pointed to Tehran-Beijing good relations and said that Iran's membership in the SCO would help the body improve its objectives.
In a press conference, Aref said Iran is ready for all-out cooperation with SCO. He said Iran can connect the SCO states with the Persian Gulf littoral states. He added that the SCO can serve as a main factor of stability in the region and take giant strides towards regional cooperation.
Iran, Pakistan and India were accepted as observers in the organization in the 10th SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan .
