Tehran, SAEDNEWS: In a post on his Twitter account on Sunday, Qalibaf said the 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed between Iran and China "is a major element for production of power" within framework of Iran's "Look to the East and Eurasia approach through a balanced and economy-oriented foreign policy."
“Unfortunately, important opportunities have been lost so far, and even now, serious determination is needed to translate this strategic document into strategic cooperation, so that, the dear Iranian nation would be able to take advantage of its economic benefits," the top Iranian parliamentarian added.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his visiting Chinese counterpart Wang Yi signed the 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in Tehran on Saturday, 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.
In a meeting with Wang after the conclusion of the deal, the Iranian foreign minister said the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement would lead to further strengthening of relations between Tehran and Beijing.
After the agreement was signed, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran and China are firmly determined to improve “strategic and long-term” cooperation in various political and economic fields and fight terrorism and extremism in the region.
“Tehran and Beijing enjoy very good relations and the two countries’ common stance on international issues attests to the favorable level of these ties,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
On Sunday, major American papers and news outlets warned about decline in the United States’ power and sphere of influence--particularly its failure to isolate Iran and China-- as they covered the historic agreement between Tehran and Beijing.
The Wall Street Journal said the emergence of the deal marked the two sides’ “defiance of US attempts to isolate Iran and advancing Tehran’s longstanding efforts to deepen diplomatic ties outside Western powers.”
The Bloomberg news agency wrote, “The alliance between Beijing and Tehran is a challenge to US President Joe Biden’s administration as it sets about trying to rally allies against China, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said is the world’s ‘greatest geopolitical test.’”
The New York Times also called the pact a “sweeping” agreement, noting its impact on the Sino-Iranian economic and security cooperation.
“The deal could deepen China’s influence in the Middle East and undercut American efforts to keep Iran isolated,” the daily wrote. The Chinese foreign minister’s visit, it added, “reflected China’s growing ambition to play a larger role in a region that has been a strategic preoccupation of the United States for decades.” (Source: Press TV)
New Era of China-Iran Ties Begins by 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
