*** CHINA BACKS IRANIAN FULL MEMBERSHIP AT SCO

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China backs Iranian full membership at SCO
Published on 03-11-2008

Chines Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday that there is no obstacle for admission of Iran as the main member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Chinese prime minister made the remarks in a meeting with the Iranian First Vice President Parviz Davoudi on the sidelines of the SCO meeting.

China backs Iran's admission as the main member to SCO, he said.

"We believe that there is no obstacle on this way and the ground is well-prepared," he said.

"Iran has played a very active role as SCO observer member and has provided us with rational and logical proposals which indicates the country's officials have paid due attention to the alliance," he said.

Referring to Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, he said China has always backed the country's peaceful nuclear activities because the country as a member of Non-Proliferation Treaty has this right to produce nuclear energy.

He expressed pleasure with the current level of trade between the two countries and called for further expansion of economic ties.

China regards Iran as its regional and international partner and calls for bolstering and broadening such ties, he said.