Iranian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Mohammad Fathali on Friday met with the Head of Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (SCO RATS) Sobanev Mirzkan Osur Kinovich, IRNA reported.

In the meeting, Fathali pointed to crucial role of the Organization in developing peace and stability in the region, expressing Tehran’s readiness to cooperate with the Organization in different fields, including campaign against drugs, extremist groups and terrorism.

Touching on the long common border between Iran and Afghanistan as well as on the two countries’ historical commonalties, he called for more cooperation with the Organization in campaign against drug trafficking.

Sobanev, for his part, welcomed the proposal of the Iranian ambassador for expansion of cooperation to that end.

The official from Kyrgyzstan referred to peace and stability as the two grounds as the key for development of regional countries, saying that holding the next conference of the foreign ministers and heads of member states of the Organization in his country is an appropriate opportunity for exchange of views on important issues.

The Summit of Member States of the Shanghai Organization will be held in the presence of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan on 16 August.

Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are the permanent member states and Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan are the observing states of the Organization.