MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. The acceptance of Iran as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be one of the highlights of the upcoming SCO summit in New Delhi, Bakhtiyer Khakimov, Russian Presidential Envoy for SCO Affairs and the Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large, said on Thursday.

"Iran’s accession as a full member will be one of the key decisions of the July 4 summit that will take place in New Delhi via video conference. Iran has completed the mandatory procedures and will join the family of SCO member states at the New Delhi summit," he said, addressing a session titled "Integration in the Name of Development: Practical Aspects of Cooperation Under the SCO" at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Khakimov also pointed to another important decision that will be made at the SCO summit. "A memorandum will be signed on Belarus’ obligations aimed at obtaining the status of a member state," he noted. "Belarus is doing its best to speed up this process, and the idea is seen very positively within the organization," the diplomat added.

The Indian Foreign Ministry announced earlier that a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State would take place online on July 4. In addition to the SCO’s eight member states, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have been invited to the event as observer states.

SPIEF

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) - Russia’s showcase annual economic and business event - is being held on June 14-17. The theme of this year’s forum is: "Sovereign Development as the Basis of a Just World: Joining Forces for Future Generations." The forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation. TASS is the official information partner of the event.