China

January 25th, 2016

Awake Goy

nsnbc : China and Iran, on Saturday, agreed to elevate bilateral relations to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership and to boost cooperation on all fronts. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Iran Friday evening after first visiting Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Xi Jinping’s visit was the first visit of a Chinese Head of State to the Iranian capital Tehran in 14 years. Xi noted that China and Iran have no fundamental conflicts and that consistent mutual support would be beneficial for both countries. Xi had previously published an open letter, stressing the 2,000 years of relations between the two countries, dating back to the ancient Silk Road. During a press conference, Xi addressed Iranian President Rouhani, saying :

“The China-Iran friendship is originated from friendly exchanges in history, from mutual assistance in difficult times, from unselfish support to each other on major issues, and from our concepts of mutually beneficial cooperation. It has stood the test of the vicissitudes of the international landscape”.

Xi Jinping’s visit comes only days after the lifting of international sanctions on Iran, following a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency confirmed that Tehran complied with agreements reached between Tehran and the P5+1 last year. Xi Jinping expressed his hope that the nuclear deal and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action could be implemented smoothly. Xi also noted that China was willing to see Iran strike a brand-new pose on regional and strategic stages. Xi said :

“China stands ready to work with Iran to lift our mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as politics, economy and trade, energy, infrastructure, security, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges to a new stage”.

China played a major role in facilitating the nuclear agreement that was reached between the P5+1 and Iran. One of the most contentious issues was Iran’s Arack heavy water reactor. It is noteworthy that both China and Russia, which also played a major role in brokering the agreement, have embarked on a sustained renewal of their nuclear energy programs. Although no country in the world has yet solved the problem with radioactive environmental contamination and the safe storage of nuclear waste, lobbies and NGOs that are opposed to nuclear energy are largely suppressed in all three countries while they are denied serious media coverage in most western countries.

Regional Stability

Xi Jinping noted the importance of regional stability. One of Xi’s aims with his visit to the region was to defuse tensions between Iran on one hand and neighboring Saudi Arabia and other GCC member States on the other. Xi also stressed the importance of finding a peaceful settlement to the wars in Syria and Iraq. Xi noted that :

“China is wiling to maintain communication and coordination with Iran to safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world at large”.

President Rouhani, for his part, noted that Xi is the first foreign head of state to visit Iran after its nuclear issue was resolved, which demonstrates the level of positive and friendly relations between the two countries. Rouhani described Xi’s visit as a milestone in the history of Iran – China Relations. Rouhani also noted that Iran values China’s important role in international affairs, bears in mind the long-term support and assistance China has given to Iran and thanks China for its contributions in helping solve the nuclear issue in a political way.

In a joint statement issued after the summit, China and Iran announced that they agree to set up an annual meeting mechanism between the their foreign ministers as a part of the efforts to deepen mutual strategic trust. The two countries underpinned that they oppose all kinds of use of force or threatening with the use of force, imposing unjust sanctions against other countries, and terrorism in any form. The statement also stressed both countries posture, that they believe that controversial and acute issues should be resolved through negotiations and political dialog.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The joint Statement issued after the summit also stipulates that China supports Iran’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Two years ago Iran expressed skepticism about the SCO, stressing that it lacked a security and military dimension that would be beneficial for Iran. Iran is currently one of six observers of the SCO, which was founded in 2001 and now has China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its full members.

Bilateral Agreements

The two countries signed a number of agreements on Saturday, encompassing fields such as energy, industrial capacity, finance, investment, communications, culture, judiciary, science and technology, news media, customs, climate change and human resources. China is Iran’s primary oil client. Iran is a major partner for China’s proposed Belt and Road initiative which is an extension of China’s New Silk Road Project. The New Silk Road is focusing on transportation networks and infrastructure development spanning from China’s Pacific coast throughout Southeast Asia and the European part of the Russian Federation. The New Silk Road also implies a vast potential for increased connectivity with the European Union.

Speaking specially about the volatile Middle East, a region of global importance for security and energy security, Xi Jinping underpinned that the best way to avoid conflict as well as social unrest was economic development and the development of economic and political interdependence of the regional States through cooperation.

The proposed Belt and Road project would extend the network to the Middle East and northern Africa, particularly Egypt. Xi also visited the speaker of the Iranian parliament. With the conclusion of the visit to Tehran, Xi Jinping wraps up his visit to the region.

CH/L – nsnbc 24.01.2016

Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/01/24/china-iran-agree-on-comprehensive-strategic-partnership/