Global Times: Raisi’s trip to China accelerates the implementation of the 25-year agreement – Mehr News Agency | Iran and world’s news
According to Mehr news agency, China’s Global Times newspaper wrote in a report about the Iranian president’s visit to Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Beijing on Tuesday, and in this meeting, the two leaders discussed deepening China’s comprehensive strategic partnership. and Iran reached an agreement. The two sides are expected to enhance their coordination under multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and inject a positive force into regional and global peace.
The report further states: Chinese experts said that the three-day visit of the President to China will speed up the implementation of the 25-year-old agreement between the two countries. The meeting between the leaders of the two countries will also promote bilateral cooperation and strengthen the deep mutual trust between the two countries.
In the report of this Chinese publication, the President of China was quoted as saying to the President of Iran: China has always looked at its relations with Iran from a strategic point of view and has developed it. No matter how the international and regional conditions change, China will continuously develop friendly cooperation with Iran and will strive to develop relations with Iran. China supports Iran in protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national honor, and supports this country’s fight against unilateralism, hegemony, and foreign forces that interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and threaten its stability. China is also willing to deepen the comprehensive partnership with Tehran by deepening cooperation in trade, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, as well as expanding cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to Xinhua, after the bilateral meeting, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, trade, tourism, environmental protection, health, relief, culture and sports. According to Xinhua, during the Iranian president’s visit, the two sides will issue a joint statement.
Global Times also added: The president of Iran is accompanied by a wide team including the new governor of the central bank and six members of the president’s cabinet such as the ministers of economy, oil, foreign affairs and trade. Chinese experts say that contrary to the reduction of American influence in the Middle East, the countries of the region, including Iran, are looking for diverse relations with other countries, which is of positive importance for building a multipolar world free from American hegemony.
Wu Saik, the former special envoy of China for Middle East affairs, told Global Times on Tuesday: The purpose of the president’s visit to China is to further promote Iran-China relations and implement a comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2021, China and Iran signed a 25-year agreement to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in various fields. According to this agreement, the two sides will use the potential of economic and cultural cooperation and plan for long-term cooperation. The 25-year-old cooperation program has faced obstacles, including in the fields of energy, trade and infrastructure, especially when the United States tightened sanctions against Iran and China. The two sides are likely to focus on how to advance practical cooperation in the midst. Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday: “Despite the uncertainty of external conditions regarding the international situation, China and Iran have common or similar positions.”
Global Times further says: Some foreign media have created differences between China and Iran and have claimed that this visit was made after Xi Jinping’s meeting with the leaders of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council last December, which provoked a joint statement of Iran’s displeasure. or they claim that cooperation between the two sides will weaken America’s efforts to isolate Iran and will have a greater impact on US-China relations. Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said in this regard: “The development of friendly relations and cooperation between China and Iran is beneficial for the welfare of the two nations and stability in the Middle East, and does not target any third party.”
According to the Global Times report, Xi appreciated Iran’s willingness to improve relations with neighboring countries, support regional countries to resolve disputes through negotiations, and play a constructive role in regional peace and stability.