Envoy: Beijing thinks of strategic ties with Tehran

Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen said China and Iran are seeking strategic relations, adding the travel of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tehran is an indication of endeavors to achieving that end, AVA Diplomatic reports.

Pang said the upcoming travel of President Jinping to Iran is an important issue regarding bilateral cooperation.

Pang made the remarks talking to China Radio International (CRI)

The two countries’ top officials have underlined importance of strengthening of cultural, security, political and economic cooperation, Pang said. Chinese president’s trip to Iran indicates the spirit of friendship between the two nations, he added.

Referring to the nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers in July, 2015, that led to implementation of that agreement and removal of anti-Iran sanctions on Saturday, Pang said China has always been for diplomatic solution of Iran’s nuclear dispute.

China and Iran are two developing countries that enjoy many commonalities in the international and regional issues, he added. The two countries are also two important trade partners that have witnessed the highest level of trade exchanges in the past six years compared with the previous years of bilateral cooperation, he noted.

During those six years, Iran had provided one tenth of China’s oil imports, he added.

He further predicted a bright future for Beijing-Tehran relations.

The Chinese president, heading a high-ranking delegation, will fly to Iran on January 22 and will stay for two days.

The trip takes place after 14 years when the then Chinese president Jiang Zemin flew to Iran.

Jinping’s visit will be in response to the trip of the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to China last year.