China and Iran have opened a joint nano center in Suzhou Science Park in China, according to ISNA.
The center was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the deputies of Iranian vice president for science and officials in charge of the Chinese Science Park as well as Iranian consulate general, secretary of Iranian nanotechnology bureau and representatives of Iranian nanotech companies.
Last year, Iran and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand scientific cooperation with the park being the first of such agreements.
Finland, the Netherlands, and Czech Republic have also established three joint centers with China at the park.
Early May, Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology Affairs Sorena Sattari and visiting President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Bai Chunli explored avenues for promotion of cooperation between the two countries in the area of science and technology.
In the meeting in Tehran, Sattari described the relations between the two countries as "strategic" and said that besides bilateral trade ties, Tehran attaches great importance to scientific relations with Beijing. Noting that there are more than 30 science and technology parks in Iran, he said the Islamic Republic is ready to host Chinese scientific companies as part of efforts to boost mutual cooperation in this field.
Sattari stressed the need to form a working group to facilitate bilateral scientific cooperation.
Bai said Iran has made great progress in the area of science and technology compared to the time of his previous visit to Iran 15 year ago. "We are very keen to expand scientific and technological interactions with Iran," he stated.
Relations between Iran and China in various fields have been growing over the past years. In late April, President Hassan Rouhani met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to discuss further expansion of ties between the two nations.
Following the meeting, President Rouhani expressed hope that bilateral economic cooperation would get a boost in the Iranian year ending March 2016.
"Talks with the Chinese president covered broader issues, including nuclear negotiations (between Iran and world powers), economic projects, the enhancement of Tehran-Beijing economic relations, and the regional issues," Rouhani said at the time.
