Iran’s Nuclear Chief, Chinese FM Urge Closer Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Visiting Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on a range of issues, including ways to boost bilateral relations between the two Asian countries.
In the meeting held in Beijing on Thursday, Wang praised Salehi’s visit to China, saying that it would have positive effects on the relations between Tehran and Beijing.
He further said China always attaches great importance to its relations with Iran and stands ready to cooperate in establishing the New Silk Road Economic Belt with Iran's development strategy.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Wang expressed the hope that the upcoming visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping would provide the grounds for boosting strategic ties between the two countries.
Salehi, for his part, said Iran firmly supports the Chinese president's New Silk Road Economic Belt initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), adding that Iran looks forward to expanding practical cooperation with China in diverse areas.
Salehi has traveled to China to hold talks on China’s technical assistance for redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor that Tehran has undertaken to “redesign and rebuild” under a lasting nuclear deal with world powers.
According to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), “Iran will redesign and rebuild a modernized heavy water research reactor in Arak, based on an agreed conceptual design, using fuel enriched up to 3.67 %, in a form of an international partnership which will certify the final design.”
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.
