INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
And the year 2024 particularly saw more frequent and more profound interactions between the two, which suggests that China-Iran relations
be particularly mentioned
The first should be mutual appreciation of the civilization of the other side
China represents civilization of East Asia while Iran represents the achievements of human civilization of West Asia
The two have been learning from each other for more than two thousand years
The shared heritage of Karez is just one example of the mutual learning of the two
And the two have been interacting with each other peacefully along the ancient Silk Road.The second should be mutual acknowledgement of the
importance of the other side as a strategic actor
China is well aware that Iran is a great regional power with diligent and intelligent people, abundant resources and geopolitical location
while Iran is well aware that China is one of the leading actors situated in East Asia but with global influence
The two are interdependent partners on strategic issues.The third should be mutual economic complementarity
While Iran is rich in natural resources including oil and gas and a number of very important rare minerals, China has advantage in financial
investment and advanced technologies, and is in need of energy as a major consumer
two in stable ways for decades
But worthy of special mentioning is that the last years, the year 2024 in particular, have seen that the relations between the two have
entered a new stage of mutual political trust as a result of both the natural development of bilateral relations and the evolution of global
politics.Mutual political trust is firstly manifested in the frequency of high-level exchanges
President Xi Jinping met with Iranian acting President Mohammad Mokhber and President Pezeshkian respectively in the sidelines of SCO summit
in early July 2024 and of BRICS+ summit in late October 2024
And Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, paid a visit to China in late December, concluding a very intensive one-year-round of
interactions between China and Iran
In addition, more high-level exchanges took place in the sidelines of various multilateral institutions.It is rare that the two sides have
had so many high-level talks in person in one single year
demonstrated the high level of mutual political trust
The two organizations are the ones China playing leading roles in though they are not exclusive by origins.Mutual political trust is
secondly manifested in the will of both sides in enhancing friendly relations
In Kazan meeting, President Xi Jinping said that no matter how the international and regional situation evolves, China will unswervingly
interests and opposing hegemony and bullying
shortly after his inauguration, which has been well received in China.Mutual political trust is thirdly manifested in the depth of
cooperation and coordination between the two sides
China and Iran cooperated in reaching the joint statement leading to the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia on March 10, 2023,
which has been solidified in the two consecutive meetings in December 2023 and November 2024 at deputy foreign minister level
The reconciliation marks a major shift in regional geopolitics, which used to be dominated by the West.The two sides have also been
coordinating with each other on various critical regional and international issues, for instance the Palestine issue
While receiving interviews in Beijing upon his arrival, Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, said that for years, we have consistently
mutual support of the main foreign policy doctrines and agendas of the other side
While Chinese leaders would always mention supporting Iran in safeguarding national sovereignty and security and national dignity, Iranian
In the same article, he also cited the three initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, namely Global Development Initiative (GDI),
Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).All these latest moves indicate that China and Iran are more than
willing to cooperate with each other with growing trust, and China-Iran relations are entering into a new stage featuring mutual political
which are worthy of more thoughtful interpretations of think tank people and policy-makers
Judging by the turbulent change of the world in the coming decades, the two sides will have to work together to deal with bad weather, and
will have to construct mutual political trust at even higher level.*Dr
Jin Liangxiang is a Senior Research Fellow of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
