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China, Iran consider lifting ties to "strategic partnership"

Xinhua, September 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

China and Iran decided to launch consultations on establishing a strategic partnership, as agreed by the two countries' foreign ministers during talks on Tuesday in Beijing.

The consideration of establishing strategic partnership is seen as an effort to further lift bilateral ties.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the two countries' relationship as "entering a new stage" since the recent nuclear deal signed by Iran had opened up new prospects for cooperation between China and Iran.

According to a press release after the talks, Wang and Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif agreed to connect China's Belt and Road Initiative to Iran's development strategies.

They pledged to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, security and law enforcement, expand into new areas like industrial capacity, while continuing to improve traditional cooperation in fields such as energy and infrastructure.

Since reaching a comprehensive nuclear deal on July 14 in Vienna, Austria, and the easing of sanctions against Iran, the country's external environment saw obvious improvement and an increasing number of foreign companies are now turning their attention to Iran.

"As Iran's good friend, China is [...] confident for the prospect of deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Iran," Wang said when meeting with the press after the talks.

Wang explained that such confidence not only results from mutual political trust and highly complementary economic relations, but also from the Belt and Road Initiative, which could act as a springboard for further cooperation.

Describing China as one of Iran's most important partners, Zarif said that ties would see a greater boost after the nuclear deal.

On the future of Iran's nuclear deal, Wang acknowledged that difficulties and even challenges could be foreseen in its decade-long implementation process, as the Iran nuclear issue is so complicated and there is no precedent to follow.

He urged the relevant sides to stick to the principle of accommodating each other's concerns on an equal footing.

Applauding China's significant and constructive role in the process of reaching and implementing the nuclear deal, Zarif hoped to continue reciprocal high-level visits and strengthen coordination with China in regional and international affairs. Endi