Top-level Iranian delegates, who arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, held meetings with senior Chinese officials to discuss ways of strengthening their strategic partnership.
In a meeting with China’s Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Zhanshu, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the purpose of the visit is to improve mutual cooperation and expressed Iran’s readiness to foster closer relations with China.
“The two countries’ relations have always been friendly throughout history … [Iran and China] supported each other in different periods,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Li highlighted the fact that the two Asian states have never come into conflict, adding that the current visit by a high-ranking delegation is a clear indication of lasting collaboration between Tehran and Beijing.
“The Chinese president’s trip to Iran, during which a joint strategic agreement was signed, was a turning point in the history of the two countries’ bilateral ties, paving the way for long-term cooperation,” he said.
In 2016, the two countries mapped out a wide-ranging 25-year plan to broaden relations and boost trade to $600 billion over the next 10 years during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping who became the first Chinese leader to travel to Iran in 14 years.
Iran’s foreign minister says, “We consider the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China as one of our most important relations”
The Iranian delegation includes senior government officials, namely Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Economy Minister Farhad Dejpasand and Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati.
Gholamreza Tajgardoun and Fereydoun Hasanvand, the heads of the parliament's plan and budget, and energy commissions, also accompanying Larijani in the trip.
Strategic Trust
On the same day, Zarif also met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to discuss mutual ties.
Wang said he was “really delighted” to meet Zarif, “given the major changes in the Middle East and the international landscape”.
“I would like to take this opportunity to have this in-depth strategic communication with my old friend to deepen the strategic trust between our two countries and to ensure fresh progress of the bilateral comprehensive and strategic partnership,” he was quoted as saying by AP.
Zarif responded by saying Iran’s relationship with China “is very valuable to us”.
“We consider the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China as one of our most important relations,” he said.
China is the top importer of Iranian crude and has also invested in Iran's manufacturing and other industries.
It is essential for both countries to maintain their ties and enjoy each other’s economic advantages amid pressure from the United States to cut global business with Iran.
The US reimposed sanctions on Tehran after it unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal last year.
China, which is a party to the deal, has frequently made clear its disapproval of the US move, making efforts along with other signatories (Germany, Britain, France, Russia and the European Union) to salvage the hard-earned deal.