TEHRAN – On Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Iran Kong Peiwu invited reporters from major Iranian media to the Chinese Embassy in Tehran and briefed them on the Chinese government’s recently drafted development plan and vision for diplomatic relations with the world.
Earlier this month, the Communist Party of China Central Committee approved a draft of the country’s next five-year development plan, the 15th developed in the past few decades, after a four-day meeting. It envisions greater independence in various fields, including science and technology.
The plan also emphasizes peaceful engagement with countries around the world based on mutual respect. This aspect has received significant attention, especially in view of Washington’s increasingly coercive and strict economic, security, and military policies toward other countries.
China itself is also subject to such measures. Since taking office, the Trump administration has imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods and recently launched an investigation that could lead to additional tariffs on China.
Asked whether Beijing was concerned about the impact of what the media described as a tariff war on its development plans, Ambassador Kong said China opposed U.S. actions but would not allow the United States to dictate its goals and ambitions.
“Unilateralism will only undermine the stability of global supply chains and have a negative impact on global economic development,” he explained. “China’s position on this issue is clear. A trade war is in no one’s interest. China and the United States should resolve the issue based on international principles.”
Regarding Iran, Ambassador Kong said China hopes to have a “community of shared destiny” with the country.
“From a foreign policy perspective, China emphasizes that it is committed to building a common global destiny and continues to emphasize common interests. China is ready to share common opportunities with Iran.” “In this new five years, China will support the development of the world, and the ‘Chinese style’ is a plan for human development. Our president has introduced a very important concept of a community with a common destiny, which reflects the beliefs of the Chinese Communist Party.”
The envoy said he had discussed this “community of destiny” with Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to the Islamic Revolution’s leadership, in a meeting held a few hours before the embassy gathering. According to an official reading of the meeting, Velayati told Chinese diplomats that the two countries share a “strategic” and “historic” relationship, which needs to be expanded across various sectors.