Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has praised friendly relations between the Islamic Republic and China, emphasizing that Tehran is ready to further enhance ties with Beijing in various fields.
Relations between the Iranian and Chinese nations “have always been based on cordiality,” Larijani said in a meeting with Li Zhanshu, the Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, in Beijing on Tuesday.
He added that his visit to Beijing is aimed at discussing possible ways with senior Chinese officials to strengthen mutual relations in different sectors.
China’s top legislator, for his part, said Tehran and Beijing enjoy age-old relations without any conflict.
Li added that a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tehran in 2016 was a turning point in relations between the two countries, noting that the agreements signed during the trip showed both sides’ determination to boost long-term cooperation.
During that visit, Iran and China signed 17 documents for cooperation in economic, industrial, cultural and judicial fields.
The documents included one signed between Iranian and Chinese nuclear chiefs for peaceful energy cooperation. Other agreements revolved around environmental cooperation, financing of a bullet train railway and banking ties.
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Earlier on Tuesday, top diplomats of Iran and China emphasized the two nations’ determination to promote their “strategic” relations in various areas as a high-ranking delegation from Tehran visits Beijing for talks.
During a meeting with Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi in Beijing, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran views the “strategic partnership between Iran and China as one of our most important relations.”