Majid Reza Hariri, the chairman of the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce, believes that both countries are politically determined to develop long-term relationship.
Hariri made the remark in an interview with China Radio International, noting that high-ranking political authorities of Beijing and Tehran are keen on expanding ties in all fields.
The Chinese and Iranian officials have time and again emphasized that they are determined to develop mutual relations, he said, noting that they should find the potential ways to implement the expansion of ties.
A joint communique by Chinese and Iranian top officials in 2016 indicates that the two countries are resolute to increase strategic cooperation, which has been symbolized in the bilateral 25-year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement signed during President Xi Jinping’s trip to Tehran, he noted.
Iran expects China to prefer political ties over economic and business considerations in order to remove obstacles in the way of expanding relations, the head of Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce said.
Fortunately, Beijing and Tehran have pursued growing, converging, and amicable ties over the course of recent 50 years, he said, adding that the two countries enjoy proper ground to expand bilateral ties in the future.
He also went on to say that Iran is considered one of the main points in the way of connecting China to the West, in particular states in Western Asia, northern Africa, and southern Europe; thus, Iran can play a key role in finalizing the One Road, One Belt Initiative, which is somehow the new Silk Road to connect China’s great economy with other parts of the world.