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Iran Role in New Silk Road Crucial

Iran Role in New Silk Road Crucial
Iran Role in New Silk Road Crucial

China’s deputy foreign minister commented on Iran’s role in the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, saying no country can ignore Iran’s role in the New Silk Road plan.

In an interview with IRNA in Beijing on Tuesday, Zhang Jun said “the ancient Silk Road and the New ‘One Belt, One Road’ is a path full of opportunities and Iran is at the strategic crossroads along this path.”

Iran and China have been cooperating in the Silk Road project for a long time, and the initiative has opened a new chapter in two-way collaboration, he said.

“China has excellent, healthy, broad, and stable relations with Iran, especially in the economic arena, and Beijing plans to enhance such ties.”

The ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, also known as ‘One Belt- One Road’ initiative, which will help redefine global trade was proposed by the Chinese government in 2013 and is projected to be completed in 2049.

This massive project aims to link China to other economies in Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $126 billion for the plan at a summit last May and said projects along the route of the Belt and Road will be open to investment from all, including third party nations.

  Win-Win Project

In an op-ed published on Iranian media on Sunday, Chinese Ambassador to Iran Pang Sen described the initiative as a win-win project for all countries located on the route of the massive project.

“The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ aims at joint development. Propelled by a new vision of development, the Chinese economy is transitioning from rapid growth to high-quality development. China stays committed to the strategy of opening-up for win-win results,” Pang said.

“It is ready to share opportunities and benefits with other countries and their people. While developing itself, China enhances common prosperity worldwide,” he wrote.

  Time-Tested Friendship

Pointing to Sino-Iran relations the ambassador said, “China and Iran enjoy a time-honored friendship. Two thousand years ago, these two ancient civilizations met each other on the Silk Road, leading to a period of glorious economic and cultural prosperity.”

“In recent years, China and Iran have been enriching their long lasting friendship by complementing each other in various aspects such as trade, energy and production capacity cooperation. The successful cooperation between China and Iran arises from our friendly and mutually complementary relations,” he continued.

Pang said his country has signed “Belt and Road” cooperation documents with more than 100 countries and international organizations including Iran.

“China commits itself to opening up wider and deeper to promote economic and social developments across the world, providing other countries including Iran with more opportunities to share the benefits of China’s development, promoting the development of the global economy in the direction of equality, justice, cooperation and mutual benefit,” he concluded.

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