Chinese President Xi Jinping praised Beijing’s “solidarity” with Iran on Tuesday as he hosted Islamic Republic President Ebrahim Raisi at the start of a three-day trip.
For the first state visit by an Iranian president to China in more than 20 years, Raisi has brought a large trade and finance delegation to Beijing and was previously greeted by Xi on the red carpet.
“In the face of today’s complex changes in the world, era, and history, China and Iran have supported each other (and) worked together in solidarity and cooperation,” Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
China and Iran are against Western countries
Both countries face pressure from Western countries over their position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Iran has been under strict US sanctions over its nuclear program.
Iran has emerged as one of Russia’s remaining allies as Moscow has been pushed deeper into international isolation by the invasion.
Western countries have accused Tehran of supplying armed drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, a charge it denies.
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In December, Washington announced what it said were extensive ties between Iran and Russia involving equipment such as helicopters, fighter jets and drones.
Moscow’s attack on Ukraine is a sensitive issue for Beijing, which seeks to maintain a neutral position while offering diplomatic support to Russia’s strategic ally.
China “supports Iran to safeguard its national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity… and to resist unilateralism and hegemonism”, CCTV reported Xi as saying.
Beijing also “opposes external forces interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and undermining Iran’s security and stability”, and will continue to “support an early and timely resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue”, the Chinese leader said.
“No matter how the international and regional situation changes, China will develop friendly cooperation with Iran,” Xi added.
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According to CCTV, the two sides signed several bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, trade, tourism, environmental protection, health, disaster relief, culture and sports.
– ‘Traditional Friendship’ –
Raisi and Xi met for the first time last September at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan, where the Iranian president called for expanded ties.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Raisi will attend a meeting with Chinese and Iranian businessmen living in the country.
China is Iran’s largest trading partner, IRNA said, citing 10-month statistics from Iran’s customs authorities. Tehran’s exports to Beijing amounted to $12.6 billion, while it imported $12.7 billion in goods from China.
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Raisi was accompanied by the foreign minister and the minister of economy, road and transport, and oil. Also attending were the ministers of industry, mining and trade, as well as the minister of agriculture, according to Iranian state television.
The delegation also included Ali Bagheri, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs and chief nuclear negotiator.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Raisi will meet with Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese legislator Li Zhanshu.
Raisi’s first visit to China comes days after she declared victory in a nationwide protest movement sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody after she was detained for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code for women.
Authorities say hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, have been killed and thousands arrested during the protests, which are widely described as “riots”.
Courts have sentenced 18 people to death in connection with the protests, according to an AFP tally based on official announcements. Four people have been executed, sparking international outrage.