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DIPLOMATICCHANNEL

GT: Some Western media outlets claimed that the deal between Iran and China created a backlash in Iran as many Iranians think the deal is selling off Iran to China. As they claimed, Iran makes too many compromises, such as selling crude oil at a heavily discounted price. What’s your reaction to this?

Keshavarzzadeh: Western countries still have the leverage to extend their colonial domination through the “media.” They publish false and manipulative information through social networks and mass media in order to prevent friendly cooperation between Iran and China. Iran and China have had friendly and peaceful relations for centuries and have never been at war with each other. Historically, the two countries have enjoyed peaceful trade and cultural exchanges through the ancient Silk Road, and the Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI) revived it once again.

China has never had a colonial record and has never tried to occupy another country. Western countries consider China, a rising world power, as a threat to their strategic dominance. They consider the establishment of a long- term strategic and friendly relationship between China and other independent countries like Iran a threat to their core interests in the region. They try to paint a bad image of China to frighten the people of other countries. When economic cooperation brings prosperity, well- being, and improves the livelihood of the local people, this poisonous and unrealistic propaganda of the West loses its effectiveness.

GT: Could you provide more details regarding projects, such as ports, 5G, and others, in the cooperation plan? Keshavarzzadeh: The comprehensive 25- year cooperation plan between Iran and China was prepared in the implementation of the joint statement of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during Xi’s official 2016 visit to Tehran. As its title shows, it has two characteristics: First, it includes all different aspects of cooperation between the two countries. And the second point is the period of cooperation that is a road map for a quarter of a century. Iran and China are two ancient Asian civilizations that have been connected for thousands of years.

The goal of the plan is to deepen and strengthen these bilateral ties and it is not against any third country.

GT: Will the sanctions imposed by the US on Iran afct the implementation he deal? avarzzadeh: Iran is only country in the hich is suffering from ons. China and many ntries are also facing roblem. As the spokesthe Chinese Ministry Affairs has stated es, “the US wantonly ctions like a big stick rarily imposes illegal al sanctions on other gn states.” It is neceshat illegal unilateral nctions and long- arm urisdiction be removed as soon as possible. The world witnessed that during the difficult period when combating CO

VID- 19, the US’s ’ s inhumane sanctions tions caused more loss ss of life in Iran.

I believe that t independent countries are determined etermined to preserve their sovereignty and follow their own destinies to cooperate in order to improve people’s lives. Even US officials confessed that the maximum pressure policy against Iran has failed. Iran and China both recognized these sanctions as interference in domestic affairs and a violation of international law; therefore we will not bow to these unlawful sanctions.

Chinese

S State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wan Wang Yi and Iranian Fore Foreign Minister Mo Mohammad Javad Zarif pos pose for a photo after sign signing a 25- year agre agreement in Tehran, Iran on March 27.

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GT:

The US and some other Western Wes countries have criticized China China’s policy in Xinjiang. The US, EU, the UK, and Canada also imposed sanction sanctions on China over Xinjiang- related issues. What’s your view? How do you evaluate China’s policies in Xinjiang? Keshavarzzadeh: First of all, the US should remember that Xinjiang or Hong Kong is part of China. No country would tolerate interference in its own domestic affairs. The US should avoid meddling in other countries’ affairs. Secondly, I believe that the West and the US are not in a position to accuse other countries of human rights violations when taking a look at their records. As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian expressed on April 6, “US history has recorded the horrific systemic ethnic cleansing and slaughter of native Americans.”

It is also worth mentioning that since 2001, the wars and military operations launched by the US in the name of fighting terrorism in about 80 countries have taken more than 800,000 lives, including 330,000 civilians, and has led to the displacement of tens of millions of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria among other countries. So if the US cares about Muslims’ rights they owe a big apology to Muslim countries and they should stop killing Muslims by bombing their territories.

Last week, I visited the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region together with diplomatic delegations from more than 20 countries. I found Xinjiang to be a very beautiful place. I witnessed how the Chinese central government’s efforts have changed the local people’s lives and brought welfare and development for the region. The goal of Western countries in fomenting Xinjiang issues is not benevolent, but purely political, and aimed at putting pressure on the Chinese government. The Islamic

Republic of Iran strongly opposes these double standards from the

West.

GT: This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China ( CPC). How do you evaluate the role the CPC has played in leading China?

Keshavarzzadeh: Over the past hundred years, China has become a major world power in all economic, political, and military dimensions. Accurate planning and concrete measures implemented by the central government, along with support from the public, is the most important factor in achieving these successes. China’s model of governance, which has been able to achieve economic growth, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development in the fastest and the least costly manner, has become a global model. China’s good governance model has challenged the stereotype of Western democracy which the West sought to prescribe liberal democracy as the only system of successful governance and forcefully imposed it on other countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran also has its own model of governance, and in spite of different kinds of conspiracy, terrorist acts, war, sanctions, and maximum pressure, can still play as an independent regional power, and has brought development and prosperity for the Iranian people during the last 40 years.