Iran-China ties at highest level: Deputy FM

EghtesadOnline: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour says that Tehran and Beijing at present enjoy the highest level of cooperation.

News ID: ۷۴۱۷۰۸

24 May 2017

Iran and China have friendly ties, Rahimpour said here on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yì.

Rahimpour, who arrived in the Chinese capital this morning to attend the meeting of consultation mechanism between Iran and China, said that bilateral ties will help solve regional questions, IRNA reported.

Iran and China have had good security and regional relations, continuation of which can be beneficial to the regional peace and stability, the Iranian diplomat added.

Talking on bilateral ties, Rahimpour said China is the first trade partner for Iran.

He further expressed satisfaction over the recent achievements gained in line with bilateral banking ties as well as progress in redesigning the Arak reactor in cooperation with the Chinese side.

Also, the diplomat noted, the top Iranian officials are after strategic ties with China.

For his part, the Chinese foreign minister stressed that his country continues strategic cooperation with Iran.

He further congratulated the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on his landslide victory at the May 19 presidential election.

Yi went on to say that the reelection of Rouhani as Iran’s president delivered a good message to the global society that the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its proper foreign policy to settle peace and stability in the region.

Referring to the last year’s travel of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Iran, Yi said the two countries’ relations entered a new phase after Jinping’s visit.

Beijing-Tehran ties will not be affected by extraterritorial factors, Yi stressed.

As he said, Iran plays very important role in the Middle East region.

He further appreciated Iran for its support for implementation of reviving the “Silk Road” Initiative.

Turning to the issue of terrorism, the Chinese foreign minister described the phenomenon as the enemy of the humanity, saying fighting terrorism is duty of all.

Countering terrorism is among important questions in Beijing-Tehran cooperation, he added.

About the July 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and six world powers including China, Yi said his country has always been in support of the deal and will strongly continue its support.

During the meeting, the two sides also held talks on the important international and regional developments and the events in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

In Beijing, Iran’s Rahimpour is due to meet with a number of Chinese think tank figures and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Ming.