Sanctioned By United States, China And Iran Signs A 25-year Cooperation Agreement

JAKARTA - The Chinese government and the Iranian government, which have both received sanctions from the United States, have signed an important cooperation agreement lasting 25 years.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the relations between the two countries had now reached the level of a strategic partnership. According to him, China also continues to make efforts to improve relations comprehensively with Iran.

"Our relationship with Iran will not be affected by the current situation, but will be permanent and strategic," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as reported by Reuters quoting Iranian state media to his counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"Iran independently cuts its ties with other countries and unlike some countries which change their position with one phone call," he continued.

Wang himself met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ahead of the signing of the agreement in Tehran, which is planned to cover Chinese investment in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure.

President Rouhani voiced appreciation for Beijing's support in the 2015 Tehran nuclear deal with world powers. And called for more exports of the coronavirus vaccine to Iran, the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the Middle East.

"Cooperation between the two countries is very important for the implementation of the nuclear agreement and the fulfillment of the obligations of European countries," said President Rouhani, according to his official website.

"Regarding the coronavirus vaccine, cooperation between the two countries needs to be increased, and we want more vaccines from China to be available," he added.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the agreement was a "road map" for trade, economic cooperation, and transportation, with a particular focus on the private sectors of the two sides.

China, Iran's biggest trading partner and longtime ally, agreed in 2016 to more than 10-fold bilateral trade to 600 billion US dollars over a decade.

China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday Beijing would try to protect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and defend the legitimate interests of Sino-Iran relations.