TEHRAN -- China and Iran should continue to support each other on issues concerning the core interests of the two sides, Chinese President Xi Jinping said to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in a phone conversation late Friday.
China views its relationship with Iran from a strategic standpoint and is willing to work alongside the Middle East country in pushing for new progress in the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said.
“In the face of the complicated international situation, China and Iran have strengthened solidarity and cooperation, enhanced the common interests of the two sides, and safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of the vast developing countries,” he said.
China, President Xi said, is ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with Iran within such frameworks as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Xi also said China appreciates the active support of Iran in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and is willing to work with Iran to promote both the implementation of the initiatives and the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.
For his part, Raisi recounted the important results reached through cooperation between the two countries over the past 50 years as last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Iran-China diplomatic relations.
He said Iran’s priority and key part of its established foreign policy is to firmly deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China.
He said he believes the ties will grow in a higher level due to effort from both sides. He also spoke highly of China’s active role in international and regional issues.
The Iranian president vowed to maintain close contact with Beijing while preserving justice in international affairs.
Raisi said both Iran and China oppose hegemonism and unilateralism, and reject interference in other countries’ internal affairs, illegal unilateral sanctions and double standards.
Iran, he said, firmly upholds the one-China policy and supports China in safeguarding its core interests.
Iran also highly appreciates China’s important and active role in international and regional affairs, and supports the China-proposed Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, he added.
Iran, President Raisi said, is ready to conduct close communication and coordination with China for the purpose of safeguarding international fairness and justice, defending shared interests of developing countries, and promoting regional and world peace, security and development.