Iran, China to Boost Bilateral Trade to $600 Billion: Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday hailed the opening of a new chapter in Iran-China relations, saying that Tehran and Beijing have discussed a huge promotion of their bilateral ties within the next decade.
Speaking after a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping here in Tehran, Rouhani underscored the need for significant development in the economic ties between the two countries after the termination of anti-Iran sanctions.
“We predict that the value of economic exchanges between Tehran and Beijing would rise to $600 billion within the next 10 years,” the Iranian president said.
Iran and China have the resolve to enhance their political ties, Rouhani said, adding the resolve should also be boosted in other fields, particularly in economy.
He also referred to the potential for mutual cooperation between Iran and China in such fields as the fight against terrorism.
“Tehran and Beijing can increase their effective cooperation to provide security and stability for the region,” he noted, stressing that the two countries can have “constructive and close cooperation” in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
The Chinese president arrived in the Iranian capital on an official visit on Friday night, and was officially received by Rouhani early on Saturday.
After meeting with his Iranian counterpart, he also held separate meetings with Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Ali Larijani and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
During his visit, high-ranking officials from Iran and China signed 17 cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) as part of efforts to boost bilateral relations between the two Asian countries in diverse political and economic fields.