China, Iran opens ‘new chapter’ in bilateral ties as President Xi Jinping visits Tehran as peacemaker, power broker and major buyer of oil
Chinese president in strong position to pursue Beijing’s agenda by boosting economic relations with Tehran, particularly in China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, say analysts
Chinese President Xi Jinping says he hopes for a “new chapter” in relations with Iran as he arrived in Tehran, marking the first visit to the Middle East nation by a Chinese president in 14 years.
Before Xi, the last Chinese president to visit the Middle East nation was his predecessor Jiang Zemin in 2002.
When Jiang landed in Tehran then, a United States-led military force had just toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, east of Iran, and then US president George W Bush was rallying support to bring down the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, west of Iran. Jiang’s talks with Tehran at the time were focused on regional conflicts and security issues.
When Xi landed in the Iranian capital on Friday, however, he came as a peacemaker, a power broker and a big buyer of the region’s oil. Against the backdrop of China’s rising economic power, Xi is in a much stronger position today than Jiang was to pursue the country’s own agenda.
“China is seeking to improve bilateral ties with Iran to start a new chapter of comprehensive, long-term and sustainable relations with the Islamic Republic,” Xi was quoted as saying by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
As the first state leader to visit Iran since international sanctions against the country were lifted on January 16, Xi oversaw the signing of 17 agreements in areas including politics, economy, security and peaceful nuclear energy, with Iran’s President Hassan Rowhani.