China, Iran pledge closer cooperation

BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Vice President Ali-Akbar Salehi in Beijing on Thursday and they pledged to boost cooperation between the two countries.

Salehi, also Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, conveyed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as the message that Iran attaches importance to the ties with China.

Salehi said Iran firmly supports Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Silk Road Economic Belt initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), adding that Iran looks forward to expanding practical cooperation with China in various fields.

Salehi thanked the Chinese side for its important role during the Iranian nuclear talks that resulted in a comprehensive accord. He hoped China will continue to exert its influence and work for the smooth implementation of the deal.

Asking Salehi to convey President Xi's greetings to President Rouhani, Wang said China always values the China-Iran relationship and stands ready to conjoin the establishment of the New Silk Road Economic Belt with Iran's development strategy, highlighting win-win cooperation in traditional energy, industrial capacity and civil nuclear energy.

Wang attributed the comprehensive deal on the Iranian nuclear issue to the concerted efforts of all sides concerned.

The accord helps maintain the non-proliferation mechanism and safeguard Iran's rights on civil nuclear energy, Wang said, adding it also "created more favorable conditions for the development of the China-Iran relationship."

China will work closely with Iran to ensure the implementation of the deal and continue to play a positive and constructive role in redesigning the Arak heavy-water reactor and other issues, Wang added.