MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) – Iranian head of state Hassan Rouhani will attend a post-Soviet Eurasian security bloc summit in Kyrgyzstan on the sidelines of which he is to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday, Press TV reported.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, set for September 13, “is of great importance to us, and the president is scheduled … to hold bilateral talks with the heads of state who attend [the summit],” Mohammad Javad Zarif said.
“The Rouhani-Putin meeting will be among the most important programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this summit,” the minister added.
Rouhani’s visit to Kyrgyzstan will be his first foreign trip since taking office on August 4.
Founded in 2001, the SCO comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It aims to consolidate efforts to counter terrorism and radicalization among member countries, and to coordinate work in other areas such as politics and trade.
Iran, Afghanistan, India, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status in the organization.