Tehran, June 12, IRNA � Head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Ali-Akbar Velayati said on Sunday that relations with China are longstanding, dating back to ancient times.

'Iran-China relations are as back as several thousand years and necessary grounds are available for their growth in all fields,' Velayati told Head of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Professor Wang Zhengyi.

'If officials of the two countries wish to utilize the potentials in the best possible manner, we will gradually see a situation that bilateral relations are expanded. In the past several years, we have paid extensive visits to China and now that you have made such a visit, we take it a good omen,' Velayati said.

Referring to reconstruction of the Silk Road, Velayati said that Iran welcomes the idea of reconstruction of the Silk Road in accordance with the exigencies of the 21st century highlighted by China and Iran expects effective steps to be taken for activating the Silk Road.

'As our Chinese friends have said about the Silk Road, it is now evident that it is a strategic road which connects China to the world. We congratulate the nation and government of China for the decision and we are ready to fulfill the decision which opens up a new horizon to China.'

Velayati said that Iran lies in a good strategic location both on land and sea, being able to be connected to the world, and it can share ideas with China.

By IRNA