TEHRAN (FNA)- Supreme Leaders top Advisor for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underlined the necessity for the development of scientific-research cooperation between Iran and China, and said such cooperation will lead to the improvement of bilateral strategic ties."By the expansion of scientific-research cooperation between Iran and China, we will witness improvement of strategic relations at the highest possible level," Velayati told FNA on Sunday after his recent visit to China during which he held meetings with the Chinese elites, the country's deputy prime minister and other officials.
He underlined the importance of his meetings with Chinese officials, and said the two sides discussed ways to enhance strategic relations to the highest possible level.
Velayati also said he held good negotiations with Chinese officials and thinkers on the expansion of scientific-research cooperation as well as partnership in fighting extremism and terrorism.
Iran and China have forged an alliance in recent years despite the western countries' attempts to prevent such ties.
Trade between Iran and China in the past year was estimated at $45bln.
Iran is currently China's third largest supplier of crude, providing Beijing with roughly 12 percent of its total annual oil consumption.
According to the figures released by China's General Administration of Customs in January, China's crude oil imports from Iran reached 2.5mln tons (mt) in December 2012, up 43 percent from November.
The official data showed that China's daily crude imports from Iran in December 2012 also rose 3.6 percent compared to December 2011.
It marks China's biggest crude import from Iran since it won a renewal of exemption from the United States' oil embargo against Iran.
By Fars News Agency
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