Replying to a question whether Ahmadinejad would attend the meeting to be held here on June 6-7, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing today that it is common practice for China to invite the president of Iran, which is an observer nation to the SCO.
President Hu Jintao will chair the meeting, and leaders from SCO member states and observer countries, as well as guests of China and heads of international organisations will attend.
The SCO, founded on June 15, 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan, India, Iran and Mongolia have observer status while Turkmenistan and Afghanistan attend SCO gatherings as guest nations.
External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna may represent India at the meeting, which could deliberate on granting full membership to India and Pakistan.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to attend the meeting.
