China, Iran Pledge to Deepen Strategic Partnership

Date: 19 February 2019 - 21:54

News ID: ۶۳۳۴۴

BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China wants to deepen "strategic trust” with Iran, the Chinese government’s top diplomat told Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday, days before Saudi Arabia’s crown prince visits Beijing.
China has traditionally played little role in Middle East conflicts or diplomacy, despite its reliance on the region for oil, but it has been trying to raise its profile, especially in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman visited Beijing in 2017, and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman arrives in China later this week. However, China has had to walk a fine line, as it also has close ties with Iran.
Meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif at a state guest house in Beijing, Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi said he had watched Zarif’s Sunday speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he said the occupying regime of Israel was looking for war.
"I saw on television how you defended the rights of Iran loud and clear at the Munich Security Conference. I think an audience of hundreds of millions of Chinese also watched what you said and you are a famous person now,” Wang said, in brief remarks in front of reporters.
"I would like to take this opportunity to have this in depth strategic communication with my old friend to deepen the strategic trust between our two countries and to ensure fresh progress of the bilateral comprehensive and strategic partnership,” he said.
China set great store on, and looks forward to, Iran playing an even more constructive role in regional affairs, Wang added, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.
Zarif is in Beijing accompanying a delegation that includes Iran’s speaker of parliament, Ali Larijani, and Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh. Iran was China’s fourth-largest oil supplier last year.
"Our relationship with China is very valuable to us. We consider the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China as one of our most important relations,” Zarif said, also in remarks in front of the media.
Washington’s major European allies opposed last year’s decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, which includes China and Russia, under which sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for it n accepting curbs on its nuclear program.
Iran’s Oil Exports Rise Despite Sanctions
Iran’s exports of crude oil were higher than expected in January and are at least holding steady this month, according to tanker data and industry sources, as some customers have increased purchases due to waivers from U.S. sanctions.
Shipments are averaging 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) in February, Refinitiv Eikon data showed and a source at a company that tracks Iranian exports said. They were between 1.1 and 1.3 million bpd in January, higher than first thought.
Increased exports from the Islamic Republic might prompt renewed U.S. efforts to clamp down on flows. However, this would run the risk of driving up oil prices as Washington is also seeking to curtail exports from another foe, Venezuela.
The February shipments are up from January’s 1.1 million bpd, according to Refinitiv. The industry source estimated January exports at 1.3 million bpd, close to February’s level.
In any case, the January figures are higher than initial estimates. Some had predicted Iranian crude exports would stay below 1 million bpd last month, a similar rate to that in December.
A source at a second company that tracks Iranian exports said shipments in the first 10 days of February were above 1.1 million bpd and on a rising trend - higher than the source expected.
Washington gave waivers to eight buyers - including China, India, Japan and South Korea, which were all purchasing Iranian crude in February, according to Refinitiv.
The rise in shipments raises the prospect of less generous waivers, should Washington renew such exemptions when those in place expire. The U.S. special representative for Iran said last month there would be a much deeper reduction in Iranian exports.
Tehran has vowed to keep exporting oil despite U.S. efforts to reduce its shipments to zero.
Asked about China’s views on the Iran deal and the U.S. sanctions, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing’s position was consistent.
"We have always opposed unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,” Geng said, referring to Washington’s unilateral sanctions outside the United Nations.