Political Issues not to Affect Iran-China Ties: Speaker
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Both Tehran and Beijing are determined to broaden bilateral relations, Iranian parliament speaker affirmed, adding that such close ties would continue to thrive regardless of political considerations.
Commenting on the results of his official visit to China, Ali Larijani said upon arriving in Tehran on Friday that Iran and China are determined to boost their relations.
“We will continue this approach. Moreover, the ties between Iran and China are consolidated and will not be influenced by political issues,” he added.
Larijani traveled to Beijing on Tuesday on an official visit to discuss the promotion of parliamentary, political, economic and cultural ties between Iran and China during his meetings with high-ranking Chinese authorities.
On Friday, in a meeting with head of the local congress of China’s Shaanxi province, the Iranian parliament speaker stated that he had held “very good and constructive” negotiations with Chinese leaders, and added, “China’s leaders have a positive view on Tehran-Beijing relations.”
Also on Wednesday, Larijani had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The Iranian speaker praised the Chinese official for his comments on the expansion of bilateral relations with Iran.
Over the past few decades, China and Iran have developed a broad and deep partnership centered on China's energy needs and Iran's abundant resources as well as significant non-energy economic ties, and geostrategic balancing in favor of both countries.
Currently, Iran is the third largest supplier of crude oil to China, providing it with some 12 percent of its total annual consumption, and the volume of bilateral trade is well over $40 billion dollars.
