Beijing – Iran’s official one-day visit to China highlights strong and friendly relations between the two countries as Tehran prepared for indirect negotiations for a new round with Washington on the nuclear issue.
Abbas Arakich held a meeting with China’s Deputy Prime Minister Din Shukshun at People’s Hall of the Hall after arriving in Beijing on Wednesday morning.
At the meeting, Arakcchi emphasized that Iran and China’s comprehensive strategic partnership remains unaffected by talks between Iran and the US.
Din, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Central Committee of China, also highlighted the traditional friendship between Iran and China.
Ding said the two countries should expand practical cooperation, strengthen coordination on international and regional issues, and promote steady and long-term progress in comprehensive strategic partnerships.
Later on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Minister met with Arakichi at a guesthouse in Diayotai Province.
Wang said China supports dialogue between Iran and all related parties, including the US, to resolve Iran’s nuclear issue. He added that China also respects Iran’s right to peacefully use nuclear energy.
Speaking with the Tehran Times at the People’s Conference, Arakcchi welcomed the strategic ties between Iran and China. He said Tehran will continue to consult with China about consultations with Washington.
“Today, there was a very constructive meeting, actually two meetings, there was a very important theme at the table, and we discussed it very carefully. Iran and China are strategic partners and we explained the recent indirect consultations between Iran and the US and said that China is the partner.
Describing China and Russia as Iranian friends, he noted that after indirect talks with Washington, Tehran will continue to talks with them. Negotiations on Iran’s nuclear issue began earlier this month.
President Donald Trump’s Middle East (West Asia) envoys Arachchi and Steve Witkov led two rounds of meetings in Oman and Italy on April 12th and 19th, respectively.
They will hold indirect consultations for the third round in the capital Muscat of Oman on Saturday.
“We are confident that if Americans continue to stay in constructive mode and avoid unrealistic and impossible demands, we can get somewhere,” Araqchi told the Tehran Times on his arrival at Beijing airport on Wednesday morning.
Araqchi also said that President Masoud Pezeshkian will soon be visiting China and will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Agency (SCO) in September, marking the “golden year” in relations between Iran and China.
Iran and China are both members of SCO and BRICS. They also established a remarkable 25-year partnership agreement with the aim of strengthening long-standing economic and political ties.