China said Iran will play its due role as observer of the prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks at a regular news briefing.

Mohammad Reza Rahimi, first Vice President of Iran, will attend the eighth prime ministers' meeting of SCO member states slated for Wednesday. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with him, Ma said.

"As a SCO observer, I believe Iran will play its due role like other observers," He said.

The SCO groups China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Leaders from four observers-Mongolia, India, Iran and Pakistan will also be present at the meeting. China has also invited Afghanistan leader as well.