FM Zarif: Sino-Iranian comprehensive strategic partnership deal will strengthen ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed with China will lead to further strengthening of relations between the two countries.

In a meeting with his visiting Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday, Zarif pointed to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Tehran and Beijing and said the history of relations between the great civilizations of Iran and China dates back to centuries ago.

The Iranian and Chinese foreign ministers on Saturday signed the 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, marking a milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries.  

The cooperation roadmap had been announced in a joint statement during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016.

It consists of 20 articles, covering Tehran-Beijing ties in “Political,” “Executive Cooperation,” “Human and Cultural,” “Judiciary, Security and Defense,” and “Regional and International” domains.

Pleased to welcome my Chinese friend & counterpart, FM Wang Yi, to Tehran.

Excellent exchange on expansion of global, regional and bilateral cooperation in the context of our comprehensive strategic partnership, culminated in the signing of a historic 25-year strategic roadmap. pic.twitter.com/ebMfxGyFHv

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) March 27, 2021

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif said China is not a fair-weather friend as it has always supported Iran during hard times and hailed Beijing’s measures to help Tehran withstand cruel sanctions.

The top Iranian diplomat once again stressed the importance of the United States’ return to full compliance with its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was abandoned by former president Donald Trump.

“Lifting of sanctions against Iran can prepare the ground for the full implementation of the JCPOA,” Zarif pointed out.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif also rejected bids to undermine the 2022 Winter Olympics, scheduled for China next February, as politically-motivated, underscoring the event as an important one.

The administration of US President Joe is under escalating pressure to push for a boycott of the event, with Senator Rick Scott introducing a resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the 2022 Winter Olympics out of China and rebid it to another country unless Beijing immediately addresses its alleged violations of human rights.

China rejects Western human rights accusations as interference in its internal affairs and malicious provocation against Chinese people.

China after promotion of all-out ties with Iran: Wang

The Chinese foreign minister, for his part, said relations between Iran and China have reached a strategic level, calling for the expansion of all-out ties with Tehran.

Wang added that the signing of the comprehensive document shows Beijing’s determination to promote ties with Tehran to the highest possible level.

During the meeting, Zarif and Wang also discussed major regional and international developments.

The Chinese foreign minister, who is on a six-country tour of West Asia, arrived in Tehran on Friday on an official two-day visit at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.

Earlier on Saturday, he held meetings with Ali Larijani, an advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and President Hassan Rouhani.

'Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership enters new phase'

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a post on Twitter on Saturday that "the comprehensive strategic partnership of #Iran and #China entered a new phase as of today." 

مشارکت جامع راهبردی #ایران و #چین از امروز وارد مرحله جدیدی شد.

گزاره برگ در خصوص "برنامه همکاری جامع ایران و چین" که امروز به امضاء وزرای امور خارجه جمهوری اسلامی ایران 🇮🇷و جمهوری خلق چین🇨🇳 رسید. pic.twitter.com/CyLP52hOU2

— Saeed Khatibzadeh (@SKhatibzadeh) March 27, 2021

The spokesman's tweet also released a fact sheet detailing parameters of the strategic agreement. 

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