Iranian President Hassan Rouhani meets with Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao. (Photo : Xinhua)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met on Oct. 9 and expressed a willingness to fully implement the consensus reached by the two countries last January.
Iran wants to further enhance cooperation with China in finance, energy, education and addressing regional problems by mapping out a 25-year cooperation agreement more quickly, said Rouhani.
Iran and China first talked about upgrading their bilateral relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Iran in January, according to the joint statement between China and Iran on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also agreed to "put consultations and discussions aimed at concluding a bilateral 25-year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement."
China is willing to work with Iran in implementing the consensus reached by the two presidents and to deepen the strategic partnership, said Li. He noted that Xi's visit to Iran led to a strategic plan for the development of bilateral relations, which are now facing new opportunities for further development.
Li said he hopes there will be more frequent contact between high-ranking officials of China and Iran; deeper mutual political trust and more cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Rouhani said Iran attached great importance to ties between China, and the Belt and Road Initiative has great regional importance.
Both Rouhani and Li are in Thailand for the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit that started today (Oct. 10).
During Xi's visit last January, China and Iran agreed to increase trade to $600 billion in the next 10 years. Iran plays an important role in China's One Belt One Road initiative, and will become an important railway connection while remaining an oil supplier to China.
