CCTV: On January 14, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted in Chinese that he is delighted to start his first visit to China after taking office at the beginning of the New Year. He exchanged views with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on a wide range of issues including the comprehensive cooperation plan and reached important consensus. As the Chinese Year of the Tiger is approaching, he hopes that bilateral ties will grow by leaps and bounds in their second 50 years and that the Beijing Winter Olympics will bring great vitality to the world amid the pandemic. Could you share more information with us?

Zhao Lijian: Thumbs up for the Chinese Twitter post by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. On January 14, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with him in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The two sides jointly announced the launch of the implementation of the comprehensive cooperation plan and agreed to step up cooperation in energy, infrastructure, production capacity, science and technology, medical and health care, expand cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, cyber security and third-party markets, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges including education, film and personnel training to deliver more tangible outcomes of cooperation.

State Councilor Wang said that over the past year, China and Iran, under the guidance of the two heads of state, took the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and deepen political mutual trust, making new achievements in bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Iran to constantly enrich the two sides’ comprehensive strategic partnership, and open a new 50-year period for the development of bilateral relations. China will continue to make utmost efforts to provide vaccines for Iran to help the country defeat COVID-19. China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran, political manipulation on human rights and other issues, and gross interference in the internal affairs of Iran and other regional countries. China will firmly support the process of negotiations on resuming compliance with the JCPOA, and continue to constructively participate in the follow-up negotiations. China hopes that all parties will overcome difficulties, work in the same direction, and adhere to moving forward the political and diplomatic settlement process.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke highly of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the signing of the comprehensive cooperation plan between the two countries last year, and thanked China for providing strong support for Iran in its fight against COVID-19. He said that Iran is firmly committed to the one-China policy, highly appreciates and will actively participate in the Belt and Road cooperation, firmly commits itself to promoting Iran-China cooperation, supports China in hosting a successful Beijing Olympic Winter Games, and will work with China to jointly oppose bullying acts and unilateral sanctions.

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