Iranian Official Hails Ties with China as Sign of Independent Political Will
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council described cooperation with China, Iran's top trading partner, as strategic, saying the rising level of bilateral ties are a sign of independent political will by leaders of both countries.
“The model of constructive cooperation between the two countries, which is expanding despite opposition of the totalitarian world powers, is a symbol of Asian cooperation and based on independent political will," Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with Yang Jiechi, Chinese state councilor.
Shamkhani, who is also representative of the Supreme Leader in the SNSC, said that since some of the obstacles in the way of accelerating the joint economic projects have been removed, the two sides can have greater cooperation in energy, industrial and commercial fields.
“The economic reforms pursued by China and the developments resulting from the new political atmosphere in Iran can help create new grounds for bilateral cooperation," said Shamkhani.
Yang Jiechi, too, said China considers cooperation with Iran as strategic and welcomes Iran’s "principled eastward look."
The Chinese official described the interim deal signed between Iran and major world powers as a very determining factor which can contribute to regional and international peace and stability.
He also supported the Geneva 2 conference on Syria, to be held on January 22, saying Tehran's participation at the event could be instrumental in finding a political resolution to the deadly crisis.
"All countries which will participate in the meeting should recognize the right of the Syrian people to determine the fate of their own country," he said.
Geneva II is the second sequel of Geneva I conference held in June 2012 in which international parties laid out a peace plan for Syria that calls for a transitional governing body. It left open the question of whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must leave power.
The UN Secretary General announced on November 25 that the much delayed Geneva II Conference on Syria will be held on January 22, 2014.
Iran says it is the Syrian people who must decide who should rule them, in a free and fair election, and not the world powers.
