28 Mar 2024
Tuesday 15 September 2015 - 14:07
Story Code : 180445

Iran says wants China's help to resolve Middle East tensions

Iran says wants China
Iranwants China's help to resolve tensions and unrest in the Middle East and is ready to play host to more Chinese firms once sanctions against it are lifted, Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday

ChinaandIranhave close diplomatic, economic, trade and energy ties, andChinahas been active in pushing both the United states andIranto reach agreement on Iran's nuclear program.

Under the multilateral deal, agreed in July, sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union andUnited Nationswill be lifted in return forIranagreeing to long-term curbs on a nuclear program that the West has suspected was aimed at creating a nuclear bomb.

"ChinaandIranfind mutual benefits in many areas," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the beginning of a meeting in Beijing.

Chinais the biggest customer of Iranian oil and Zarif said their economies were "complementary". The two countries faced "similar challenges as well as opportunities", he said.

"I agreed with Minister Wang Yi that we share similar views on regional issues, which should be solved in a political way. We would like to cooperate withChinaon issues inYemen,Syriaand the Middle East, seeking a political solution," he said.

Chinahas traditionally been a low-key diplomatic player in the region, despite its reliance on its oil, calling for negotiated settlements and decrying threats or the use of force.

"We both agree that the unrest in West Asia and North Africa regions is not sustainable, it should be solved in a political way and we should seek a solution that can address the concerns of different parties," Wang said.

Zarif thankedChinafor its role in the nuclear talks.

"After the agreement is implemented, illegal sanctions imposed uponIranby Western countries will be lifted, a lot of Chinese companies will have more chances to cooperate withIran," he said.

Chinahad long objected to unilateral sanctions imposed onIranby the United States and Europe, though it has supported U.N. ones, and had denounced threats of force.

Wang saidChinawould fulfill its promises and play an active and constructive role in implementing the nuclear agreement.

In July, Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. PresidentBarackObamathatChinawould work with the United States and others to ensure the implementation of the agreement. Xi visits the United States later this month.

By Reuters
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