Larijani Thanks Beijing for Backing Tehran in Hard Times

EghtesadOnline: Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani hailed China’s success in containing the novel coronavirus and applauded the Asian country for assisting Iran in the fight against the infectious disease.

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20 April 2020

In a letter to his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhanshu, Larijani congratulated China on its success in controlling COVID-19 and developing an “effective global pattern” to contain the disease, Tasnim News Agency reported.

He also thanked China for providing Tehran with medical and humanitarian aid to help curb the spread of the virus in Iran, according to Financial Tribune.

“Such a support has undoubtedly had a significant role in helping the process of controlling the disease in my country,” Larijani added.

Highlighting the major role of Iran and China in regional and international developments, the Iranian speaker said, “Our common belief is that expansion of friendly cooperation between the two sides in diverse fields is a strategic principle of the two countries’ foreign policy.”

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted a message in Chinese language on his Twitter account, praising China for assisting the Islamic Republic in the fight against the novel coronavirus and for condemning the US sanctions against Tehran.

“I thank China for providing Iran with anti-epidemic materials, sending medical experts and condemning the continued illegal sanctions by the United States that seriously hindered Iran’s efforts to fight the epidemic,” Zarif said.

China has repeatedly denounced the US government’s sanctions on Iran amid the outbreak of the coronavirus and has shipped several consignments of medical supplies to Iran in recent weeks.