Iran, China should use common interests to boost strategic partnership: Pundit

Press TV has interviewed Foad Izadi, professor at the University of Tehran, to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to Iran.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: I guess I am going to wrap up the significance of this trip given the fact that we are looking at the first trip in 14 years by a Chinese head of state. Why is this trip so important?

Izadi: Well it is important because Iran and China face a common enemy, competitor - the United States. It is important because it is coming after the nuclear agreement and it is important because both countries are growing and realizing that strategic partnership could enhance their status internationally quite well. So since both countries realize this, they have decided to actually cooperate more than before.

Press TV: And if you want to take a look at the political advantages that come out of this relationship by both countries getting closer, what would they be for example in terms of the regional crises or overall?

Izadi: Well it is in the interest of the Chinese government to make sure that not all the states in the Persian Gulf region are US allies. We have the Saudi government, the Bahraini government, the Qatari government, the UAE, all these governments are considered to be pro-West and since China is exporting more than half of its energy needs from the Persian Gulf, it is important for the Chinese government to make sure that not all countries in this part of the world are at the service of the US foreign policy objectives and that is why they need to have good relations with Iran because Iran has an independent foreign policy.

Having a safe environment in this part of the world is also important. So what you see with regard to the Saudi aggressions in the last few months, it is important for China to make sure that this part of the world stays and remains safe so they can influence the Saudi government to make sure that their wrong behavior in the last many months is corrected.

As you know the Chinese president went to Saudi Arabia just before coming to Tehran. So it is hoped that this trip will make the Saudi government realize that their policies are not really fruitful. It is also very important for both sides to realize that unfortunately the United States government considers both countries either enemies or major competitors. So cooperation between the two countries - Iran and China – is going to be important in that sense. China is establishing this network of banks throughout Asia. Iran can be part of that. Iran can be part of the Shanghai pact. So overall there are a lot of common interests and areas of common benefit that both countries can exploit and I think both governments are realizing that.  

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