Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

On the afternoon of February 14, 2023, at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi Jinping held talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi  who is in China for a state visit.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Iran enjoy traditional friendship and bilateral relations have withstood the tests of various international vicissitudes. In the face of the complex changes consequential to our world, our times and history, China and Iran have stood together in mutual support and solidarity and worked jointly to fight COVID-19, which has consolidated strategic mutual trust, promoted steady progress in practical cooperation and expanded convergence of interests between the two countries, and safeguarded international fairness and justice, writing a new chapter in China-Iran friendship. 

China is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, unswervingly promoting high-quality development and high-level opening up, and unswervingly upholding world peace and promoting common development. China always views and develops relations with Iran from a strategic perspective, and no matter how the international and regional situation changes, China will remain steadfast in developing friendly cooperation with Iran and advancing China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, and play a positive role for world peace and human progress amidst the major changes unseen in a century.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, supports Iran in resisting unilateralism and bullying, opposes external forces interfering in Iran's internal affairs and undermining its security and stability, and stands ready to continue to work with Iran to firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests. China is ready to work with Iran to well implement the comprehensive cooperation plan between the two countries, deepen practical cooperation in such fields as trade, agriculture, industry and infrastructure development, and import more high-quality agricultural products from Iran. China will continue to carry out Belt and Road cooperation with Iran to enhance connectivity and expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Xi Jinping noted that safeguarding stability in the Middle East concerns the well-being of countries and peoples in the region, and is of vital importance for safeguarding world peace, promoting global economic development and ensuring a stable energy supply. China appreciates Iran's willingness to actively improve relations with its neighboring countries, and supports countries in the region in resolving conflicts through dialogue and consultation to achieve good-neighborliness and friendship. China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability. China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Iran on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), to practice true multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. China will continue to  take a constructive part in negotiations on resuming compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), support Iran in safeguarding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests, and work for a proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue at an early date.

Raisi said the time-tested friendship between Iran and China has grown from strength to strength. China and Iran are two independent major countries, Iran-China relations are based on the spirit of mutual respect, and they are sincere strategic partners worthy of mutual trust. Iran's commitment to deepening and upgrading the Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership is unswerving and will not be affected by any changes in the international and regional situation. Iran hopes to work with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels, well implement the comprehensive cooperation plan between Iran and China, and deepen practical cooperation in such fields as trade and infrastructure development. It welcomes Chinese businesses’ investment in Iran, and looks forward to more Chinese tourists coming to Iran. Iran thanks China for providing precious assistance to the country in fighting  COVID-19 and for upholding justice on such issues as negotiations on resuming compliance with the JCPOA. Iran firmly supports and will actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by China. Iran and China are both resolutely opposed to unilateralism, hegemonism  and bullying, and resolutely opposed to foreign interference in their internal affairs. Iran firmly supports China in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. Iran is ready to strengthen communication with China on international and regional affairs, and maintain sound cooperation with China in multilateral settings such as the SCO to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and maintain regional and world peace and security. 

The two heads of state also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as agriculture, trade, tourism, environmental protection, health, disaster relief, culture and sports.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Raisi at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

A 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square, and the guard of honor lined up in salutation. The two presidents stepped onto a stand and a military band played the national anthems of China and Iran. Raisi reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past in the company of Xi Jinping.

Wang Yi and He Lifeng, among others, were present at the events.

During Raisi's visit to China, both sides will issue a Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran.