Iranian leader witnesses SCO summit

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Play VideoSCO leaders conclude annual summit, sign Joint communique

As an observer to the SCO summit in Russia, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took his turn speaking at one of the summit meetings on Tuesday.

He said that "America is consumed by economic and political crises, and there is no hope for an immediate resolution to these issues."

He also said "the international mechanisms which are based around imperial ambitions are surrendering their position."

Ahmadinejad also talked briefly with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the summit.

The Iranian president also met with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. Both leaders called for enhanced cooperation in the face of new challenges and opportunities.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, smiles during a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)