Iran Press/Iran news: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in his meeting with Chinese counterpart 'Wang Yi' in Beijing said that ties with China are the most strategic for Iran compared to relations to other countries, Mehr News Agency reported.
China is an important country for Iran and its foreign policy, said Zarif, adding that the visit of Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and his accompanying delegation marks a 'new start' for developing ties between the two countries.
Senior Iranian officials are scheduled to meet their Chinese counterparts to promote bilateral ties.
Zarif also congratulated the people and government of China on the occasion of the new Chinese year and appreciated China's warm welcome for the Iranian delegation.
For his part, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised Zarif's speech at the Munich Summit saying: "I personally watched that you defended the Iranians' rights bravely and I think hundreds of millions of Chinese have also watched your speech and now you are a well-known person in China."
Yi highlighted the importance of bilateral ties between the two states, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Iran in January 2016 has expanded bilateral relations to a ‘strategic level’.
Senior high-level government officials, including the Iranian oil minister, minister of foreign affairs, minister of economy and finance, and CEO of Central Bank of Iran are accompanying Larijani on his trip to China.
Larijani is also scheduled to hold a meeting with his counterpart Li Zhanshu, as well as the Iran-China parliamentary friendship group, and pay a visit to an exhibition showcasing China’s achievements at the country’s national museum. 103/211/209
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