Iranian President in Beijing on his first official visit to China

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Beijing on Tuesday with a large delegation on a three-day visit to China, the main objective of which is to promote economic, energy and bilateral relations. According to Iran’s state media, this is Raisi’s first official visit and the first visit to China by any Iranian president in 20 years.

Earlier, Raisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first time on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan last September. China supports Iran to gain full membership of the organization.

The Iranian president took office in August 2021, accompanied by a large entourage on the trip to Beijing. It also includes top nuclear negotiators, including the new central bank governor, an important indication of the priorities of the visit. Raisi’s delegation also includes his cabinet ministers for finance, petroleum, foreign affairs, commerce, transport and urban development and agriculture.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will first meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and after that the negotiations between the delegations will begin. As a result of the talks, several agreements will be signed in the presence of the two leaders.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a statement that President Raisi will also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, a top Chinese lawmaker.

“China and Iran enjoy traditional friendship, and this is a strategic choice by the two countries to strengthen and develop China-Iran relations,” Wang said, adding that Beijing is “Eastern”. Wants to play a constructive role in enhancing unity and cooperation among the countries of the Middle East and promoting regional security and stability.

Before the start of the visit, Raisi’s deputy for political affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, told state television on Sunday that the main purpose of the visit was to “finalize the operational mechanisms” of the 25-year comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement, which But the two countries signed in 2021.

Iran’s chief negotiator on the nuclear deal, Ali Bagheri Kini, is also included in the delegation, which is saddened that Iran wants separate talks with China on the nuclear deal as well. China is also one of the countries that signed this agreement.

According to reports, China invested only $162 million in the Iranian economy during the first year of Raisi’s presidency, less than Afghanistan and Turkey. However, China is still Iran’s largest trading partner. Despite US sanctions, China continues to buy Iranian oil.

Along with Russia, China has indicated that it supports Iran’s bid to join the powerful BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Recently, the Chinese president visited the Gulf countries and during this time he also signed the joint statement in which he questioned the Iranian ownership of three islands near the Strait of Hormuz and also questioned its nuclear program. had gone.

As a protest, Iran summoned Beijing’s ambassador to Tehran and expressed its dissatisfaction. China has also improved its relations with the Arab countries of the region and in this new context, the Iranian president is visiting Beijing.