Chinese President Due in Iran Later This Month

The Chinese president will make the visit at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

This will be the first visit to Iran by President Xi Jinping. He will be accompanied by a high-ranking political and economic delegation.

Experts believe the trip will open a new chapter in the friendly relations between the two countries in different fields.

Majid-Reza Hariri, the head of Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce, said a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are due to be signed during the visit.

The MoUs will be mainly focused on infrastructures including the development of railroads, ports, and free trade zones.

The Iranian and Chinese presidents held their most recent meeting on the sidelines of the 70th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York back in September.

During the meeting, Rouhani hailed Tehran’s strong bonds with Beijing, saying Iran is keen to reinforce cooperation with China, particularly after the removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

“In the new era (after the implementation of a nuclear deal signed between Tehran and world powers and removal of anti-Iran sanctions), the Islamic Republic of Iran will not forget its friends who maintained their good ties with the Iranian nation in hard times,” Rouhani said at the time.

Chinese President said for his part that in recent years, Iran and China have managed to sustain their relations at highest levels and can constantly promote their mutual cooperation to boost the welfare of both nations.

Iran’s interaction with the world is expected to grow against a backdrop of finalization of the text of a comprehensive nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached on July 14, will terminate all nuclear–related sanctions imposed on Tehran after coming into force.