Attempts to Disparage Iran-China Deal Decried

The cooperation deal recently signed between Iran and China is unpalatable to those seeking to isolate Tehran and force it to surrender, which is why they are frantically attempting to vilify the agreement and foment a media outcry against it, a senior diplomat said.
In a post on his Instagram page, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed attempts to misrepresent the 25-year cooperation agreement between Iran and China.
“As a major power with an economy at the top global level, China has signed and signs comprehensive cooperation agreements and big trade contracts with various countries from the Americas and Europe to the Persian Gulf Arab states, the Central Asia, the Middle East and the Far East,” he said.
“Strategic relations with China have been of special significance for Iran as well. Likewise, the expansion of relations with Iran to the level of strategic partnership has been a priority for China too, which materialized during the Chinese president’s trip to Iran [in 2016].”
Khatibzadeh noted that Iran, as an influential actor in international relations, could naturally not give in to the pressures of cruel US sanctions in devising its development plans, and would seize every opportunity to advance its policies.
“It is obvious that our efforts on this path are unpalatable to those who seek Iran’s surrender or isolation, thus they are frantically putting distortion and negative propaganda against such agreements on the agenda, like in this case,” he added.
The Iranian diplomat stressed that the comprehensive plan between Iran and China provides a roadmap to cooperation, stressing that the implementation of the deal, particularly economic contracts between the two states, will benefit the Iranian people.
Last month, the foreign ministers of Iran and China signed the 25-year agreement in Tehran to develop bilateral cooperation in various fields.
The Iran-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was announced in a joint statement during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tehran in 2016.