Iran receives support on nuclear deal
Xi pledges further cooperation; also hails friendly ties with Vietnam, Pakistan
President Xi Jinping extended China’s support for Iran’s reasonable demands in relation to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that Beijing is willing to step up coordination with Teheran to safeguard the common interests of both sides.
Xi made the remarks in a phone conversation on May 24 with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.
China will continue to support Iran’s defense of its sovereignty and national dignity, and is willing to help the country fight COVID-19 to the best of its ability and secure an early victory against the pandemic, Xi said.
The two sides have stood in solidarity and helped each other in fighting the pandemic, while enabling their bilateral pragmatic cooperation to attain positive outcomes, he noted.
Xi added that both nations have offered each other staunch support on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, which consolidated mutual strategic trust and upheld international fairness and justice.
With this year marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, China-Iran relations are at a critical historic juncture in terms of building on their strong legacy and taking them forward, Xi said.
He underscored that China attaches great importance to relations with Iran, and is willing to use the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to scale up cooperation in various areas and to deepen bilateral cooperation to achieve more tangible results.
Beijing will continue to play a constructive role for the early and just settlement of the Palestinian issue and is willing to step up communication and cooperation with Teheran on regional and international affairs and jointly promote regional security and stability, Xi said.
Rouhani expressed appreciation for China’s valuable support and help to countries in their virus fight, saying that Teheran firmly adhered to the one-China policy and supported Beijing’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Iran is willing to step up strategic cooperation with China to expand win-win cooperation in areas such as trade, economics and energy and jointly building the Belt and Road, he said.
On May 24, Xi also spoke with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc over the telephone.
During the talks, Xi said the traditional friendship as comrades and brothers is a shared precious treasure of the two parties and nations.
He highlighted the need for both sides to continuously expand bilateral trade, accelerate their infrastructure connectivity and fully explore the potential for cooperation.
The Vietnamese president offered congratulations on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, saying that Vietnam always supports the development of a strong socialist China that follows an independent foreign policy.
He called for closer political exchanges, strengthened solidarity and mutual trust and deeper cooperation in areas such as trade, virus response and people-to-people exchanges.
Earlier, on May 21, Xi called for deeper strategic communication and pragmatic cooperation between China and Pakistan as the two nations celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
In a congratulatory message exchanged with his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi, Xi urged steps to promote the high-quality operation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and to jointly foster an even closer community with a shared future for the new era between the two sides.
The two nations, as all-weather strategic cooperative partners, have extended to each other steadfast support over issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, he said, adding that the mutual trust and friendship have always been rock solid despite changes in the international situation over the past seven decades.
Xi noted that the development of the CPEC, with joint efforts from both sides, has secured remarkable outcomes in recent years, delivering benefits to both peoples and adding strong momentum to regional prosperity.
Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing and Islamabad have stood in solidarity and offered each other sincere mutual assistance, which further elevated their strong bilateral friendship, he said.
Alvi said in his message that Pakistan and China have always trusted, respected and supported each other over the past 70 years, and have shared weal and woe.
The bilateral relationship is stronger, more solid and prosperous than ever, and the Pakistani side more than appreciates the precious support from China in its fight against COVID-19, he said.
Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged messages with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 21, a day after the two spoke by phone.
In his phone call with Imran, Li said he hopes that the two sides will maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and maintain and develop the precious treasure of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
Li and Khan exchanged views on international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 in particular. China is ready to provide support to Pakistan within its capacity in fighting the pandemic, Li said.
Khan, for his part, said Pakistan looks forward to strengthening highlevel exchanges and advancing strategic cooperation with China.
Pakistan particularly hopes to deepen cooperation with China to fight COVID-19, Khan said.
Vice-President Wang Qishan attended in Beijing a reception marking the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between China and Pakistan.
The two nations are set to host over 120 celebrations within the year, covering politics, diplomacy, economics, science, education and health, in order to give fresh momentum to bilateral relations, Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, told a news briefing on May 21.