Islam Times - Beijing seeks strategic relations with Tehran: China FM

Islam Times - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has voiced satisfaction with the enhancement of the bilateral relations between Tehran and Beijing in recent years, saying that his country seeks the establishment of “strategic” ties with the Islamic Republic.

Speaking in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Russian capital, Moscow, on Thursday, Wang said the growth in the Sino-Iran relations in recent years has been acceptable, noting that the development of friendly ties and interactions with Iran has always been among the “strategic issues” that Beijing has had high on its agenda, IRNA reported.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the High-level “Security and Stability in the SCO Region” Conference.

The top Chinese diplomat said Beijing is eager to strengthen its traditional relations with Tehran, and deepen the mutual relations in various spheres, including that of energy.

Wang also touched upon a Chinese plan to revive the Silk Road – a project that aims to connect Asia to Europe and Africa through a network of roads, railways, ports and airports – and said Beijing believes that the project can facilitate new opportunities for industrial and financial cooperation between China and Iran, and serve the interests of both Asian countries.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Chinese foreign minister expressed hope that a final comprehensive agreement over Iran’s nuclear energy program could be clinched by the June 30 deadline.

Talks are underway between the representatives of Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany over the Islamic Republic’s civilian nuclear program.

Referring to the talks, the Chinese foreign minister said a tough but fruitful process is ahead of the negotiating parties.

Zarif, for his part, lauded China’s role throughout the course of the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1.

He also voiced the Islamic Republic’s full readiness to actively help the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road come to life.