China, Iran sign 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership deal

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif have signed a 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, marking a milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries.   

In a ceremony held in Tehran Saturday and carried live on national television, the two diplomats marked "half a century of friendly diplomatic relations" by putting their signatures on the document.   

Wang earlier hailed close relations with Iran, saying the strategic ties between the two countries remain “permanent” regardless of conditions.

“Iran decides independently on its relations with other countries and is not like some countries that change their position with one phone call,” he said. 

He made the remarks in a meeting with Ali Larijani, an advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in Tehran on Saturday.

Referring to the historic and friendly relations between Tehran and Beijing, Wang stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation within the framework of a 25-year strategic partnership agreement and expressed his satisfaction with the deal’s finalization.

He noted that China's ties with the Islamic Republic will not be affected by conditions, but will remain “permanent and strategic.”

Larijani, for his part, emphasized that Iran decides independently on its ties with other states and, unlike certain countries, does not change its position with a phone call.

The two sides further commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic Iran-China relations.

They further explored ways to develop political, economic and strategic ties, underlining the need for close consultations between the two countries to promote long-term cooperation.

Also on Saturday, Wang met with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

The top Chinese diplomat is in Tehran for a two-day visit.

The Sino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was announced in a joint statement during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tehran in 2016.

The cooperation roadmap consists of 20 articles, covering Tehran-Beijing ties in “Political,” “Executive Cooperation,” “Human and Cultural,” “Judiciary, Security and Defense,” and “Regional and International” domains, according to the statement released back then.

MG