“Fruitful talks in beautiful Tengchong with my friend Wang Yi on Iran-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Rejected US unilateralism and US attempts to create unipolar world. Agreed on strengthening our ties incl 25-yr plan, regional coop, preserving JCPOA & vaccine collab,” Zarif tweeted late on Saturday.
The top diplomat, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in China on Saturday for an official visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
Recently, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Zarif’s visit to China would take place on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Tehran and Beijing “are determined to further expand their strategic partnership,” he tweeted, adding that China is Iran’s “1st economic partner” despite the US “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic.
China maintains friendly ties with Iran and remains a party to the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which the US withdrew in 2018 and subsequently targeted the Iranian nation with the “toughest ever” economic sanctions.