Ministries Instructed to Utilize Potential of Coop. with SCO

President Ebrahim Raeisi on Sunday directed his ministers to identify and exploit enormous potential that arises from Iran becoming a full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“Today, not only the Foreign Ministry, but all ministries, are obligated to do their utmost to use this capacity to boost the economy,” Raeisi was quoted as saying by his website.
The SCO admitted Iran as a permanent member during the organization’s annual summit on Friday in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe.
Other full member states, including China, Russia, India, Tajikistan and Pakistan, also attended the alliance’s 21st summit. 
“Members of SCO see that grounds for cooperation with Iran are more prepared than ever,” Raeisi said, “They feel they can promote cooperation with Iran.”
The top official reiterated his foreign policy priority to form and expand ties with neighboring and regional nations.
He pointed to India’s operations at the southeastern Chabahar port and said, “Chabahar port is the gateway to Asian nations and the world; therefore, acceleration of its development is crucial.”
New Delhi has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port to establish new transport routes in southeast Iran to directly ship cargo to Afghanistan and central Asian countries by bypassing Pakistan. 
Raeisi also noted the deep cultural relations between Iran and Tajikistan. “In this trip, the two nations became determined to start a fresh chapter in bilateral ties.”
The president’s trip to Dushanbe was his first foreign visit since taking office. He is yet to resume talks with parties to the 2015 nuclear deal to revive the agreement.
The Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance was established in 2001 by Russia, China and ex-Soviet states to counter western influence in the region. It has since enhanced its influence by adding India and Pakistan as full members.