China president underlines prospect of ties with Iran

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 21

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Prior to his Tehran visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for strengthening political, trade and cultural ties with Iran through an op-ed published on IRNA news agency on Jan.21.

Saying that Iran and China have enjoyed diplomatic ties and supported each other since 1971, he added Tehran and Beijing will continue their ties to make sure that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action will be fully implemented without any failure.

In a joint statement on Jan. 16, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the implementation of the JCPOA, aka nuclear deal, and the removal of economic sanctions on Iran. According to the statement, EU confirmed that legal framework, providing for lifting of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions, is effective.

Speaking about trade ties between Iran and China he said that over the past six years Beijing has been Tehran's major trade partner.

According to Iranian Customs Administration, Iran exported 17.56 million tons of non-oil goods, worth $5.33 billion to China during the first eight months of 2015. China was the main importer of Iranian goods in the mentioned period. Beijing's imports accounted for 22.7 percent of Iran's total non-oil exports in terms of value and 33.3 percent in terms of volume.

He pointed to his meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over the past two years and said that the both parties have reached significant agreements on expansion of bilateral ties.

He further called for expansion of ties on transport sector and said Iran and China both are considered to be significant destinations that are located along the Silk Road.

Earlier in 2015 Iranian media reported that Tehran plans to participate in an ambitious Chinese plan to revive the Silk Road which aims to connect Asia to Europe and Africa through a network of roads, railways, ports and airports.

President Xi Jinping kicked off his three-nation regional tour to the Middle East on Jan. 19.

After launching a joint-venture refinery in Saudi Arabia on 20. Jan, Xi Jinping left for Cairo and he is expected to visit Tehran as part of his regional visit.