Why Washington is wary of this Asian summit

Although host China has said the Iranian nuclear issue won’t be on the summit’s agenda, the issue is expected to arise in separate meetings between Ahmadinejad and Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the forum’s fringes.

A warm reception to Ahmadinejad would strengthen perceptions of the SCO as a new challenge to Washington’s interests, say analysts, particularly in light of the decade-old grouping’s efforts to strengthen its influence over security and economic affairs.

‘‘Particularly from the US viewpoint, it’s a significant development and not altogether welcome,’’ said Tim Huxley, senior fellow for Asia-Pacific security at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Observers will also be looking for other signs of strengthening SCO-Iran relations, including possible steps to move Iran from observer status to formal membership.

Even without formal membership, Iran’s presence within the SCO has changed outside perceptions of the group.

‘‘Iran’s participation will attract additional attention to the SCO, will increase it’s clout,’’ said Venera Galyamova of the Center for China research in Kazakhstan.

Russia and China deny Iran’s presence indicates a hidden agenda for the summit and portray the SCO as a neutral force focused on security and trade among its members.

‘‘It would not be correct to search for a special subtext for Iran participating,’’ Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday in answer to written questions about the summit.

All about SCO

• Set up 10 years ago, it has six members

• Objective: To deal with border disputes but it has expanded its reach into counterterrorism, defence, energy and economic cooperation.

• Besides Russia and China, the members are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

• Pakistan, Mongolia and India are also attending as observers

• Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai is a special guest.

• Iran is participating without being a formal member.

–CHRISTOPHER BODEEN