TEHRAN/BEIJING – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ended his visit to China on Wednesday after attending the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) heads of State Summit and SCO Plus meeting, underscoring Iran’s role in regional cooperation and multilateral diplomacy.
Pezeshkian departed Beijing for Tehran following a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. The president began his trip on Sunday with speeches at the SCO Summit and SCO Plus meeting, both held in Tianjin, China’s northern port city.
During the visit, Pezeshkian held bilateral talks with leaders from China, Russia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. He also met with Iranian expatriates in China.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi praised Iran’s “active and multilateral” approach at the summit, saying Pezeshkian’s participation demonstrated Tehran’s commitment to constructive engagement in regional affairs. 
Pezeshkian highlighted Iran’s efforts to strengthen regional cooperation by presenting new initiatives during his speeches at both SCO forums.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, focuses on political, economic, and security cooperation in the region. Iran officially joined the organization in July 2023.
At the summit, Pezeshkian proposed the creation of a “Peace-Building Committee” made up of member states’ foreign ministers to address ongoing regional crises. 
He also suggested an “Accounts and Settlements Mechanism” to bolster financial cooperation within the SCO and mitigate the impact of international sanctions.
In his speech at SCO Plus, which includes additional member and observer states, Pezeshkian emphasized the forum’s value for promoting international peace and highlighted Iran’s strategic geographic position within China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a vast infrastructure and economic development project launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s commitment to resolving issues related to its peaceful nuclear energy program through diplomatic means. He also welcomed Xi’s “Global Governance Initiative,” which promotes principles such as sovereign equality, adherence to international law, multilateralism, and a people-centered approach to global issues.
During the summit, SCO members adopted over 20 documents covering areas including security cooperation, narcotics control, artificial intelligence, green industry, sustainable energy, science and technology, and multilateral trade, Gharibabadi said.
The summit’s final communiqué condemned what it described as the “unprovoked war” imposed on Iran by Israel and the United States in June, calling it a “flagrant violation” of international law and the UN Charter. The statement stressed the negative impact of such aggression on regional and global security.
Members of the SCO also emphasized the need for permanent guarantees for nuclear safety during armed conflict and reaffirmed the binding nature of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
The communiqué warned that attempts to reinterpret the resolution risk undermining the credibility of the Security Council, referring to European efforts to reinstate sanctions on Iran when the resolution expires in October.
The summit also acknowledged Iranian initiatives such as the establishment of a “Strategic Security Studies Center,” a taskforce to ensure the supply of essential medicines and equipment, cooperation on new technologies, and the formation of an industrial insurance union.
On the sidelines of the summit, Pezeshkian held bilateral talks with key leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, who described Iran as a strategic partner. Xi reaffirmed China’s support for Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and called for expanded cooperation, particularly in transportation and connectivity.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing places “paramount importance” on relations with Iran and stands ready to deepen bilateral cooperation.
“China always places its relations with Iran high on its diplomatic agenda in the Middle East,” Mao said on social media platform X. “China stands ready to work with Iran to carry forward the friendship, deepen mutual trust, and strengthen cooperation in various areas.”
Mao added that China will continue its efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. “China will continue to uphold justice, work for a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties, and make continued efforts for realizing lasting peace in the Middle East,” she said.