China wants to deepen “strategic trust” with Iran, the Chinese government’s top diplomat told Iran’s Foreign Minister yesterday, days before Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince visits Beijing, underscoring China’s difficult Middle East balancing act.
Beijing has traditionally played a small role in Middle East conflicts or diplomacy despite its reliance on the region for oil, but it has been trying to raise its profile, especially in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman visited Beijing in 2017, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives in China later this week.
However, China has had to walk a fine line as it also has close ties with Saudi Arabia’s regional foe, Iran.
Meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at a state guest house in Beijing, Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said he had watched Mr Zarif’s Sunday speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he had accused Israel of looking for war.
“I saw on television how you defended the rights of Iran loud and clear at the Munich Security Conference. I think an audience of hundreds of millions of Chinese also watched what you said and you are a famous person now,” Mr Wang said, in brief remarks in front of reporters.
“I would like to take this opportunity to have this in-depth strategic communication with my old friend to deepen the strategic trust between our two countries and to ensure fresh progress of the bilateral comprehensive and strategic partnership,” he said.
China places a great degree of importance on, and looks forward to, Iran playing an even more constructive role in regional affairs, Mr Wang added, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. It did not elaborate.
Mr Zarif is in Beijing accompanying a delegation that includes Iran’s Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ali Larijani, and Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh.
Iran was China’s fourth-largest oil supplier last year.
“Our relationship with China is very valuable to us. We consider the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China as one of our most important relations,” Mr Zarif said, also in remarks in front of the media.
He also expressed an intention to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative, saying it was of special significance to both Iran and China.
“The Iranian side welcomes China’s more important role in issues concerning the Middle East region such as Syria, Iraqi reconstruction and the peace process in Afghanistan,” he said.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme reached in 2015, stating that they would continue to strengthen communication and coordination and make active efforts to safeguard legitimate rights and interests, implement the agreement and defend multilateral rules.
Washington’s major European allies opposed last year’s decision by US President Donald Trump to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, which includes China and Russia, under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for it accepting curbs on its nuclear programme.
Source » straitstimes