Top Diplomat Wang Yi Tells Zarif in Beijing:
Iran, China ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partners’
BEIJING (Dispatches) – Iran and China need to join forces to counter unilateralism and "contempt for international law", Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, during a meeting in Beijing with the Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councilor Wang Yi.
""Unilateralism is on the rise. Rejection of international law, not just lack of respect for international law, but, in fact, contempt for international law, is on the rise and we need to work together,” Zarif told Wang, in comments in front of reporters.
Zarif said he was in Beijing to brief the Chinese official on his recent meetings in France on the Iran nuclear deal, but he gave no details.
Zarif arrived in China after a visit to the G7 summit for talks with host France, as Paris ramped up efforts to ease tension between Tehran and Washington, a dramatic diplomatic move that the White House said had surprised it.
Since pulling Washington out of the deal last year, U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed a maximum-pressure policy to try to force Iran into a new negotiation that would include its ballistic missile program and regional activities.
China has close energy and diplomatic ties with Iran, and is one of the signatories to the nuclear deal, which it says must be upheld.
"We are comprehensive strategic partners,” Wang said. "That speaks to the high level of our relationship and our close strategic cooperation.”
China supported all efforts beneficial to safeguarding the nuclear agreement, Wang added, in comments carried later on the foreign ministry website.
It also "understands the reasonable demands put forward by Iran”, he said, adding that China would continue to play a constructive role in easing tension in the Gulf region.
Zarif said he was particularly excited by the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to recreate the old Silk Road with massive infrastructure spending connecting China with the rest of Asia and beyond.
Iran considers the Belt and Road "to be the future of our region and our global interactions”, he added.
Zarif did not mention the U.S. directly in opening remarks, but he appeared to be referencing the administration of President Trump.
"Unilateralism is on the rise. Rejection of international law, not just lack of respect for international law but in fact contempt for international law, is on the rise and we need to work together," Zarif said.
Zarif made a five-hour visit Sunday to the seaside resort of Biarritz, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and French, German and British diplomats.
He said he planned to brief Wang on "the latest developments as well as my tour of Europe and my discussions in Biarritz with our French colleagues" in the nuclear agreement.
Wang said in his opening remarks that "unilateralism is rising and power politics is emerging".
"Facing this situation, China as a responsible country agrees to work with Iran and other countries to work together for multilateralism, the basic rules of international politics and uphold the rightful interests of each country," Wang said.
Zarif's visit to Beijing comes amid heightened tensions between China and the U.S. over their spiraling trade dispute and unrest in Hong Kong that Beijing accuses Washington of encouraging or even directing.
""Unilateralism is on the rise. Rejection of international law, not just lack of respect for international law, but, in fact, contempt for international law, is on the rise and we need to work together,” Zarif told Wang, in comments in front of reporters.
Zarif said he was in Beijing to brief the Chinese official on his recent meetings in France on the Iran nuclear deal, but he gave no details.
Zarif arrived in China after a visit to the G7 summit for talks with host France, as Paris ramped up efforts to ease tension between Tehran and Washington, a dramatic diplomatic move that the White House said had surprised it.
Since pulling Washington out of the deal last year, U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed a maximum-pressure policy to try to force Iran into a new negotiation that would include its ballistic missile program and regional activities.
China has close energy and diplomatic ties with Iran, and is one of the signatories to the nuclear deal, which it says must be upheld.
"We are comprehensive strategic partners,” Wang said. "That speaks to the high level of our relationship and our close strategic cooperation.”
China supported all efforts beneficial to safeguarding the nuclear agreement, Wang added, in comments carried later on the foreign ministry website.
It also "understands the reasonable demands put forward by Iran”, he said, adding that China would continue to play a constructive role in easing tension in the Gulf region.
Zarif said he was particularly excited by the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to recreate the old Silk Road with massive infrastructure spending connecting China with the rest of Asia and beyond.
Iran considers the Belt and Road "to be the future of our region and our global interactions”, he added.
Zarif did not mention the U.S. directly in opening remarks, but he appeared to be referencing the administration of President Trump.
"Unilateralism is on the rise. Rejection of international law, not just lack of respect for international law but in fact contempt for international law, is on the rise and we need to work together," Zarif said.
Zarif made a five-hour visit Sunday to the seaside resort of Biarritz, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and French, German and British diplomats.
He said he planned to brief Wang on "the latest developments as well as my tour of Europe and my discussions in Biarritz with our French colleagues" in the nuclear agreement.
Wang said in his opening remarks that "unilateralism is rising and power politics is emerging".
"Facing this situation, China as a responsible country agrees to work with Iran and other countries to work together for multilateralism, the basic rules of international politics and uphold the rightful interests of each country," Wang said.
Zarif's visit to Beijing comes amid heightened tensions between China and the U.S. over their spiraling trade dispute and unrest in Hong Kong that Beijing accuses Washington of encouraging or even directing.