Beijing:

Iran Important Trade Partner of China

TEHRAN (defapress)- Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming said that Tehran is a significant ally of Beijing in area of commerce, adding that his country’s market needs Iranian products, specially in the fields of energy and oil.

News ID: 76290

Date: 19 March 2019 - 15:48

Qian made the remarks in a conference in Beijing which was held through the efforts of Iranian Embassy on Monday and in the presence of visiting Iranian Economy Minister Farhad Dejpasand.

In the conference dubbed “Iran and China: Opportunities for Investment and Trade”,  Qian called Iran an important trade partner for China in the Middle East region, adding “the level of trade between the two countries last year was $35 billion, a significant part of which was the exports of Iran to China.”

The Chinese business official added that the two countries of Iran and China have long-standing relations and very close business and economic cooperation, stressing that the bilateral relations will increase based on the will of the two sides’ authorities.

He said the visit of Iran’s economy minister and his accompanying delegation showed that the two countries are resolute to expand relations.

He further added that the bilateral relations between Iran and China face challenges and problems, which need to be resolved through a forward-looking approach and bilateral cooperation.

The Chinese vice minister of commerce also called for support for Iranian and Chinese companies, which play an important role in bringing the two sides together.

The conference, which was held in the complex of the Iranian Embassy in Beijing, had more than 100 businesspersons from China and Iran in attendance.

Earleir on Monday, Dejpasand, said that Iran is negotiating a financial and monetary agreement with China to further increase economic and commercial relations between the two countries.

He added that Iranian authorities are negotiating a financial and monetary agreement with China on using local currencies in bilateral financial transactions.

His visit aims at attending the 17th round of Iran-China Joint Economic Commission, which is slated for March 18-19, to explore the ways for boosting bilateral ties.

“We have several programs for developing economic relations between the two countries, which will be discussed in this meeting of the joint commission,” Dejpasand said.

“We must try to develop economic relations between the two countries in the fields of trade, investment and science and technology,” the minister added.

He added, “Some of the joint projects which are being carried out between the two countries have encountered a few problems, and we are going to discuss and resolve these issues with various authorities in China.”

He also said the call for foreign investment in Iran will be one of the key issues in the talks, adding, "There are various investments being carried out by the Chinese in (Iran’s) Arvand, Tehran and Ray regions, and we are planning to expand these investments."

“We are trying to attract the Chinese side’s investment in the agricultural field, including in the areas of greenhouse and fisheries,” the economy minister said.

Dejpasand further noted that the Iranian “establishment” is willing to establish a strategic relationship with China, and that they will be consulting on long-term cooperation on the trip.

He also pointed out that a high-ranking Iranian delegation will be attending the Chinese Conference of One Belt One Road, which will be held later this year in April.

Iran and China are enjoying huge economic and commerical relations, and on Sunday it was announced that a group of Chinese firms sealed an agreement with officials of Iran’s Northeastern province of North Khorasan to invest a total of 5 million yuan in the mining industries of the province.

Deputy Governor General of North Khorasan province Majid Pour-Isa said that Chinese investors will make investment worth of 5 million Yuan in the mines of the province.

The investments will be made in marble mines of Garmeh County of the province, Pour-Isa added after a meeting with the Chinese investors.

“Chinese operation in the province’s mines will start as of the next Iranian year (to start on March 21),” he said.

There are also plans to cede land to the Chinese in Bojnourd special economic zone to set up factories, he said.

Some 21 types of minerals with reserves of 775 million tons have been discovered in North Khorasan province, the most important of which are bauxite, marble, limestone and plaster.

Back in late September, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York, called for broadening of mutual cooperation, specially in trade and economic fields.

"Beijing will maintain economic relations with Tehran and is committed to Iran nuclear Deal despite pressures from the US government," Wang said during the meeting on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) annual session.

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