Iran's charge d'affaires to China said on Tuesday that China was Iran's largest Asian trade partner in 2008.
Addressing a conference in Beijing on investment opportunities for refinery projects in Iran, Saeed Shabestari said that Iran-China bilateral trade in 2008 touched $27.6 billion, showing a 34 percent growth over 2007, IRNA reported.
"In 2008, Iran exported nearly $3.8 billion worth of non-oil products to China, and its imports amounted to $8 billion in the period," noted the official.
China and Iran enjoy an extensive economic relationship despite global economic sanctions.
Iran and China cooperate in many sectors, including energy, construction, trade, and tourism. China currently helps Iran build dams, shipyards, ports, airports, mine-development, and oil and gas infrastructure. With more than 100 Chinese state companies operating in Iran, Beijing wants to increase its presence in Iran's market.