The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry speaks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Tehran, Iran.

tehran - The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) plays a positive role in ensuring the continuity of an international order based on multilateralism and the rule of law, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.

The SCO is "very impactful and effective in that it can represent the interests and concerns of the Global South," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told Xinhua in an exclusive interview ahead of a SCO summit taking place Sunday-Monday in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is in China for the summit, as well as for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Anti-Fascist World War.

Regarding the Iranian president's visit to China, Baghaei said: "We will take this opportunity to promote our bilateral ties with China and to meet with other leaders of the participating states."

Bagaei observed that the world now faces common challenges caused by "unilateralism and the coercive measures that some Western countries, particularly the United States, have been applying against developing states."

The SCO, he added, can play a very significant role in providing an effective framework for cooperation among countries of the Global South, safeguarding the interests of developing countries and ensuring the continuity of an international order based on multilateralism, the rule of law, and "the normative frameworks emanating from the Charter of the United Nations."

Regarding Iran-China ties, Baghaei highlighted the shared historical bond of culture and civilization between the two countries, adding that both sides continue to advance and strengthen their relations, with mutual understanding and trust constantly growing.

"It's a constantly evolving relationship. We value our relationship with China," he emphasized.

The two countries have signed several agreements in areas such as trade, economy, energy, agriculture and tourism, he noted, expressing optimism about the future of Iran-China cooperation.

"The foundation of our bilateral relations is very solid, and both nations are determined to maintain their excellent bilateral relations," he added.

The SCO was created in 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017, and Iran in 2023. Belarus became the most recent full member in 2024.