China lauds 2000-year old ties with Iran

Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee of China, Li Zhanshu, hailed long relations between Tehran and Beijing, adding that Iran’s parliament speaker’s visit to his country marked long-term cooperation between the two countries.

Li Zhanshu, in a Tuesday meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, said that relations between Iran and China go back to more than 2000 years ago, adding that there has never happened any war between the two Asian powers.

The visit of the Chinese president to Iran in February 2016 and signing of a strategic agreement was a turning point in bilateral relations and showed the path for long-term cooperation, he added.

Zhanshu went on to say that the Iranian high-ranking officials’ visit to Beijing is a clear message for long-term cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Larijani expressed the country’s readiness to further cement and expand ties with China.

The Iranian top lawmaker said that Iran and China have always had friendly relations and have supported each other in different periods.

He also highlighted that the visit aims to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two Asian countries.

Earlier on the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran has its best relations with Beijing, highlighting that China is an important country for Iran and its foreign policy.

EA