Foreign Ministry:

President’s Visit to Initiate Leap in Iran-China Ties

Date: 13 February 2023 - 21:36

News ID: ۱۱۲۴۰۲

TEHRAN -- Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said Monday the visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to China will take place at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and will focus on political, economic, trade and cultural cooperation.
Nasser Kanaani talked about the 25-year strategic partnership agreement with China, which was signed by the previous Iranian government, saying Raisi’s visit can create a “leap” in the implementation of the proposals under the agreement.
The spokesman also touched on the move by organizers of the Munich Security Conference to leave out Iran saying this goes against the stated aim of the event that is helping boost international security.
Kanaani also addressed the issue of exchange of prisoners with the U.S., saying Tehran is ready for a swap without any pre-condition and only if this is not tied to other issues.
The spokesman said Iran has already released a dual national inmate in a show of goodwill but the U.S. government is yet to take reciprocal steps.
Kanaani reiterated that Iran will use every diplomatic potential to secure its interests adding that Tehran is committed to the nuclear talks and seeks removal of all sanctions against the country.
He noted that other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal should also take action to show their goodwill on the accord and its implementation.
He said Iran is not in direct talks with the U.S. and is ready to use the capacity of intermediaries, such as Iraq.
The spokesman also rejected the comments by the French foreign minister, who has called for international action against Iran’s missile program.
Kanaani said such rhetoric and blame game does not help the resolution of “difference of opinion” and “misunderstandings” between Iran and the European sides.
The president’s deputy chief of staff for political affairs said Raisi seeks to operationalize a 25-year partnership agreement with China during his upcoming state visit to Beijing
Speaking on television on Sunday night, Muhammad Jamshidi said President Raisi’s three-day visit to China later this week will have both economic and politico-strategic dimensions.
Iran, he said, pursues extensive economic cooperation with China based on the partnership agreement, which was signed in March 2021, in an attempt to strengthen long-standing economic and political alliance between the two countries.
“During a visit by the Chinese deputy prime minister to Iran, negotiations were held in various committees and now we are ready to implement them,” he said.
“We have advanced the mechanisms for implementing the comprehensive agreement between Iran and China, which was a deal on paper at the beginning of this administration’s term. The agreement’s finalization will be followed up during this trip.”
The official said the Raisi administration’s strategy revolves around the policy of “economic convergence”, especially with Asian countries.