• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Chinese FM terms Tehran-Beijing ties as positive

IRNA

2003/08/26

Beijing, Aug 26, IRNA -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing here 
on Tuesday, terming Tehran-Beijing ties as positive, expressed 
China`s satisfaction with further expansion of mutual relations and 
lauded Iran`s efforts to the effect. 
Before meeting with his Iranian counterpart, he told IRNA that 
his negotiation with Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, will 
be focused on bilateral ties as well as regional and international 
issues of mutual interest. 
Stressing that Kharrazi`s visit to China will contribute to 
further introducing the two states to each other and strengthening 
relations, he said that ties between Iran and China have been 
noteworthy over the past 30 years, specially after the victory of 
Islamic Revolution. 
Zhaoxing said that the frequent exchange of visits between 
senior officials from both countries in recent years have been very 
effective in raising the level of bilateral economic and trade 
cooperation. 
"China gives high significance to its traditional and friendly 
ties with Iran and is willing to continue its extensive bilateral 
cooperation in the long run," he added. 
Turning to the wide range of joint cooperation between Iran and 
China, he called for continuous exchange of visits between the 
senior Iranian and Chinese officials as well as foreign ministry 
authorities. 
Terming the potentials of both states for economic and trade 
collaboration quite high, he stressed that China hopes for further 
expansion of joint cooperation in the field of oil, gas, power 
generation, communications and transportation. 
"The favorable economic and social profits of Tehran metro 
project are evident and more joint projects in various fields are 
due to get underway in the future," he added. 
He pointed out that Iran and China, as two developing countries, 
have almost common outlooks on numerous regional and international 
issues and usually support each other in international affairs. 
The Chinese minister underlined the significance of closer 
contacts between the two countries in regional and international 
affairs. 
Referring to Iran as a pivotal state in the Middle East 
and west Asian regions, he stressed the decisive role it plays both on
regional and international scenes. 
Zhaoxing lauded President Mohammad Khatami`s initiative of 
`Dialogue Among Civilizations` and Iran`s optimized ties with the 
world and regional countries. 
He expressed his confidence that Iran will play a great role in 
promoting regional and world peace and security. 
Turning to Iran`s sensitive role in protecting peace and security 
as a neighbor to Iraq and Afghanistan, he underlined the high 
significance of the developments in the two countries to China. 
"Given the common outlook of the two states on Iraq and 
Afghanistan, China is willing to play a role in establishing peace 
and stability in those countries in joint cooperation with Iran. 
"As a developing country and permanent member of the United 
Nations Security Council, China finds itself committed to protection 
of global peace. It will continue to back the UN Charter, the 
international laws and establishment of a global modern political and 
economic system," he added. 
The official pointed to peace and development as the two pivotal 
issues facing the world and stressed China`s interest in playing its 
role to the effect by making proper use of the current opportunities. 
Kharrazi, heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, 
arrived in Beijing from New Delhi on Monday on the second leg of a 
three-nation tour which will also take him to Japan. 
Kharrazi is accompanied by a high-ranking economic delegation 
comprising presidential advisor, head of Iran`s High Council of 
Free Trade Zones and a number of other officials. 
MP/212 
End