Iran, China call for enhanced economic, trade ties
Chinese ambassador to Iran Pang Sen and Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia, in a meeting on Sunday, called for increased economic relations between Tehran and Beijing.
The Iranian minister said that annual trade between Iran and China has reached $27 billion, up from $500 million before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Tayyebnia described both countries as having the highest capacity to boost bilateral cooperation even beyond the current level.
Referring to Iran’s strategic status in the region and its possession of the largest reserves of oil and gas in the world, Tayyebnia said relations with Iran would be crucial to China which is the world’s second largest economy.
He went on to call for China’s direct investment in Iran’s auto, oil and petrochemical industries. Tayyebnia referred to agreements already signed between the two countries during a recent visit to Beijing by President Hassan Rouhani, according to which China was authorised to invest nearly $70 billion in infrastructural projects in Iran.
Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador underlined longstanding cooperation between Tehran and Beijing and voiced China’s readiness to increase investment in Iran.
Pang said he was going to consider the demands put forward by the Iranian economy minister during the meeting.
