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Need for Sino-Iran Synergy to Address Common Concerns

Need for Sino-Iran Synergy to Address Common Concerns
Need for Sino-Iran Synergy to Address Common Concerns

A senior Chinese official says Tehran and Beijing need to work together to address common challenges in the new global era.  

"The world has undergone unprecedented developments. Iran and China -- both influential in their own regions -- should cooperate to deal with existing issues," Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, said in a meeting with Kamal Kharazi, head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in Beijing on Friday, IRNA reported.  

Commending the two countries' "historic" relationship, he Song said, "We have to develop an East-oriented roadmap so that countries with short histories will not be able to impose their political systems on others and claim that they rule the world."  

His comments echoed those of senior officials in Tehran who say Iran needs to readjust its policy and move closer to the East if it wants to minimize the economic impact of the unilateral US sanctions.

  Economic Projects

Kharazi, a former foreign minister, said there is great untapped potential for the expansion of bilateral ties in all areas, especially energy.

He expressed hope that Sino-Iran economic cooperation will expand to cover reconstruction projects in Iraq and Syria, both of which suffered monumental human and material losses during the wars in the country and the fight against the Islamic State terrorists.

The two officials also discussed issues facing Iran, including restrictions on its oil exports in the sanctions-era and reiterated that the remaining signatories to the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement need to intensify their efforts to salvage the deal.  

  Oil Exports

The US is trying to halt Iranian oil exports to force it to negotiate a new nuclear agreement and curb its role and influence in the Middle East.

China, Iran's biggest oil customer, has said it is opposed to any unilateral sanctions and has defended its commercial ties with Tehran.

Reuters reported last month that Chinese buyers of Iranian oil are starting to shift their cargoes to vessels owned by National Iranian Tanker Company for nearly all of their imports to keep supply flowing.

The first round of sanctions, which included rules cutting off Iran and any businesses that trade with the country from the US financial system, went into effect on August 7. A ban on Iranian oil will start in November.

 

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