Iran, China mark 40 years of ties

Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Javad Mohammadizadeh (R) and He Guoqiang, a senior official of the Communist Party of China, at a ceremony to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Iran and China on July 15

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/189293.html

The Islamic Republic of Iran and China have celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Javad Mohammadizadeh and He Guoqiang, a senior official of the Communist Party of China, praised the level of bilateral ties during a ceremony held commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Tehran-Beijing diplomatic relations held in Tehran on Friday, IRNA reported.

Iran and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations on August 16, 1971.

Mohammadizadeh noted that bilateral relations have developed steadily in recent years and expressed hope that ties between the two countries would be expanded in the future.

The Iranian official noted that Iran and China are keen to boost their interactions and urged the two countries to seize every opportunity to expand their relations in all spheres.

He said that increasing the level of banking cooperation and financial transactions with China is one of the priorities of the Islamic Republic's foreign policy.

Guoqiang added that the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of China's most important trade partners.

He went on to say that Iran-China relations --particularly in energy, infrastructure projects, transportation, and telecommunications, have benefitted both countries over the past 40 years.

Iran is currently China's third largest supplier of crude oil, providing China with roughly 12 percent of its total annual oil consumption.

The volume of Iran-China trade stood at about $30 billion in 2010.