The red carpet for the Iranian president on his first visit to China since taking office: Ebrahim Raisi was greeted with twenty-one cannon fire in Beijing on the first day of his visit, which began today, February 14. Hence, a state trip for the leader of the Islamic Republic, who on a three-day trip will aim to strengthen the relationship between the two autocratic powers in a global context devastated by the war in Ukraine.
Rain of deals to strengthen bilateral understanding
Within these three days, Iranian President Raisi will seek to expand wide-ranging cooperation with China, taking advantage of his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Indeed, the Iranian president arrived at the Asian giant accompanied by a large commercial and financial delegation that included the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Transport, Oil, Agriculture and Commerce, as well as Iran’s chief nuclear energy negotiator. Ali Bagheri Kani and Central Bank Governor Mohamed Reza Farzin.
Persons and persons who will enable Raisi to return home with 20 new cooperation agreements in various fields such as tourism, export and international trade, telecommunications, environment and agriculture, and finally intellectual property, sports and culture. The signing of these new agreements could end a period of misunderstanding between Beijing and Tehran.
The face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries also serves to defuse tensions that arose last December when Xi reached out to the Gulf country’s king, Salman bin Abdulaziz, by signing 34 deals while traveling in Saudi Arabia. It’s worth $30 billion. One agreement not appreciated by Tehran is one that is particularly disturbing when the joint statement between Beijing and the countries of the region mentions a sovereignty dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the three Islamic-ruled islands in the Strait of Hormuz. Republic. After the discussion, China said it was ready to play a “constructive role” in improving relations between Iran and the Gulf states.
The latest meeting between Raisi and Xi dates back to last September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. But since then, the political situation in the country of the Ayatollahs has accelerated: Iran is actually shocked by public protests following the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being arrested by the Iranian morality police. In recent months, China has made clear reference to Beijing’s support for the Islamic Republic over anti-Islamic protests, emphasizing its support for Iran against foreign interference and preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity and national dignity. drew condemnation from the West. Support that allows the head of state of the Islamic Republic to show a high level of interest in bilateral trade.
What does China have to do with the protests in Iran?
In fact, China is Iran’s first trading partner, absorbing the bulk of Tehran’s crude oil exports (last December, China imported more than 1.2 million barrels per day, 130% more than in the same month in 2021, despite sanctions). This figure, to which Iran is subject, makes the Islamic Republic the third largest supplier of crude oil to China, after Russia and Saudi Arabia). But investment is waning: Chinese investments in the Iranian economy in the first year of Raisi’s presidency stood at $162 million, below those allocated to Afghanistan and Turkey.
Speaking in People’s Daily, the official press organ of the Chinese Communist Party, a few hours after the start of the bilateral meeting, Raisi brought up many international files and the common positions of Beijing and Tehran against imperialism and all unilateralism. identified as the main causes of crises.
Words that should be read as a clear reference to the sanctions imposed on the United States and Tehran (the latest, in chronological order, today: Washington has targeted some companies accused of playing a key role in the production, sale and shipment of petrochemicals and Iranian oil to buyers in Asia) .
Iran’s nuclear program on the agenda
Calling for a stable world order, the Iranian president also insisted on the importance of respecting the rights and interests of other nations in order to achieve true multilateralism.
Unity is strength against the common enemy. Xi spoke in favor of a dialogue to resolve Iran’s nuclear problem as soon as possible and expressed his support for the Islamic Republic to protect its rights and interests. And then, with blatant reference to the United States, the Chinese president expressed his support for “Iran’s sovereignty and national dignity” and opposes “one-sidedness and tyranny” and “outside interference in Iran’s internal affairs and undermining Iran”. repeated. Security and stability of the Islamic country”.
Xi’s remarks express China’s critical position in the Iran nuclear deal, better known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (COEP). The signing of the agreement came in 2015, after two years of lengthy negotiations and diplomatic efforts between Iran and the “5+1” group, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United Kingdom). States) plus Germany and the European Union, and what Washington unilaterally left during the Trump presidency in 2018.
What does the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan include? The agreement, signed to limit and closely monitor the activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the atomic field, included Tehran’s commitment to end its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
However, in recent years, the Islamic Republic has started new and different nuclear activities at power plants in the country. However, Washington, while being criticized by Beijing for withdrawing from the agreement, on the other hand, maintains its broad sides against Tehran to supply Moscow with UAVs to be used in the Ukraine war.
Tehran’s ambitions
So what does Raisi aim for? Several Chinese analysts quoted by the Global Times underlined how the president of the Islamic Republic wants to strengthen ties with the Asian giant after a 25-year “political, strategic and economic” cooperation agreement reached in 2021. The $400 billion includes Iran’s supply of oil and natural gas to China in exchange for infrastructure investments.
During the visit of outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Hu Chunhua to Tehran last December, the understanding between the two countries was further strengthened with the signing of 16 memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy, gas, oil, joint investments and financial interactions. and infrastructure, including ports. With 20 new agreements signed, Raisi can be content with a visit to China to strengthen the axis against the West and “complete the operational mechanisms” of the 25-year global cooperation agreement the two countries signed in 2021.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
