Iran Ready for Broader Cooperation With China

I ran is ready to engage in cooperation over major projects with China, a former member of the Majlis Economic Commission said.

“Iran and China should take full advantage of the opportunities and resources and carry out fundamental planning for cooperation and joint investment as soon as possible and we are totally ready to take further bigger strides in our cooperation with the Chinese government,” Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moqaddam was also quoted as saying by IRNA.

He was speaking in a recent meeting hosted by the Chinese Communist Party.

Highlighting the long history of close relations between the two nations, he said, “We will not forget China’s help and its friendly approach during the era of cruel sanctions against the Islamic Republic.”

Those sanctions were lifted after Iran signed a landmark nuclear deal with six major powers, including China, in July 2015.

Mesbahi-Moqaddam, who currently serves as a member of the Expediency Council, voiced Tehran’s interest in joining the One Belt, One Road project, an initiative introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping that envisions a grid of railroads, shipping ports, airfields and cultural exchanges to connect Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The scheme involves 65 countries, which together account for one-third of global GDP and 60% of the world’s population, or 4.5 billion people.

“We are glad to be among the 65 countries located on the route of the OBOR initiative. We are enthusiastic to participate in this lucrative project,” Mesbahi-Moqaddam said.

“We are the most important potential ally and strategic partner [of China] in helping advance this project.”

In Chinese language, the “One Belt” part of OBOR refers to the land routes while “One Road” covers marine traffic.

OBOR is a new scheme to show how China will get along with people in the world, as well as superpowers and other countries. It provides a new way to collaborate with Third World and developing countries.

As a key part of the narrative of the new Chinese leadership, OBOR has not only become one of the top priorities of the Chinese government, but has also attracted considerable interest from abroad, particularly from neighboring Asian countries.

Beijing has close economic and diplomatic ties with Tehran and was also instrumental in pushing through the 2015 deal.

Financial Tribune