Trade gets boost after Iranian official's visit

China and Iran reached "a series of decisions that will help further promote bilateral trade" in a meeting on Tuesday, a high-ranking Iranian financial official told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday.

Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia, who arrived in Beijing for the 16th meeting of the China-Iran Joint Economic Commission, said Tuesday's meeting reviewed various fields of trade between the two countries, including oil, infrastructure projects, as well as financial cooperation.

According to the finance minister, bilateral trade has increased significantly over the past three decades, and Chinese investment in Iranian construction projects is accounting for a greater proportion of that trade.

Tayyebnia said China-Iran ties have reached "a stable status", partly because the two countries' economies are "highly complementary".

Iran, which has large reserves of crude oil and natural gas, can satisfy China's current and future need for energy, while Chinese companies can play a positive role in Iran's projects related to crude oil and natural gas, the finance minister said.

Ties between China and Iran have been further improved since President Xi Jinping visited the Middle East country in January.

During Xi's visit, the two countries agreed to set up a comprehensive strategic partnership, and a number of documents, including a memorandum of understanding between the two's governments on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, were signed.

Tayyebnia said on Wednesday that Iran is prepared to play an active and influential role in implementing the initiative, and that his country will continue to be an important transport hub for the initiative.