Khatibzadeh: Iran-China Relations are Authentic, Civilizational, Historical, and Enduring
Tehran - BORNA - Saeed Khatibzadeh, Head of the Center for Political and International Studies (CPIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking at the opening ceremony of the third round of the "Iran-China Dialogue Forum," which was initiated by the CPIS, stated: "While we are on the verge of the 55th year of official relations between Iran and China, we emphasize the principle of friendship between Iran and China, regardless of what happens in the international system."
The full text of the Deputy Foreign Minister's speech at the meeting is as follows:
As we approach the 55th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Republic of China in the new era, I am honored to inaugurate the third Iran-China Think Tank Forum alongside my Iranian colleagues and Chinese guests.
The third Iran-China conference is being held under conditions where the bilateral relations between the two countries and their surrounding environment are facing serious and influential developments.
This special situation compels the thinkers and elites of both countries to focus their efforts with a new, pragmatic approach and with the goal of facilitating short-term planning for bilateral relations, in a way that is consistent with the two countries' long-term strategic plans for bilateral ties.
In the time elapsed between the second conference and today, the high leaders of the two countries have demonstrated their will to advance bilateral relations within a completely fragile and unstable surrounding environment. During this period, the Presidents of both countries have used opportunities, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, to present their special initiatives for effectively shaping the new international order and guiding it towards securing the maximum interests of all nations of the world.
The initiatives of the Presidents of the two countries share many commonalities—a point that defines a double duty for the governmental and independent think tanks of the two countries: to find ways for the two countries' synergy in the international arena, and by facilitating the formulation of practical executive programs for bilateral relations in the new circumstances, enable the reduction of costs for realizing these initiatives for each side, as well as reducing the implementation costs of the development programs for each country.
The third Iran-China Think Tank Forum is being held under conditions where Iran's Seventh Development Plan and China's Fifteenth Development Program have presented new approaches for shaping and regulating the foreign relations of both countries. By focusing on the commonalities between these approaches, it is possible to reach scheduled, operational executive programs that practically enable a lower-cost and more profitable realization of the grand initiatives and visions of the leaders of the two countries for the future of the world and the surrounding regions, through the channel of Iran-China bilateral relations.
Following the agreement of the leaders of the two countries to upgrade the level of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2015, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Republic of China signed their Strategic Cooperation Document based on this new level of relationship in early 2021, and practically began the implementation process of the said document in January of that year.
This document, despite changes in governments in Iran, continues to be recognized today as the foundational document for bilateral relations. During today's and tomorrow's programs, thinkers from both countries aim to analyze and examine how to move towards achieving the goals stated in the document, taking into account the changes in the surrounding environment, the imperatives arising from the initiatives of the Presidents of the two countries, and the requirements of the two countries' five-year development plans.
While relying on traditional sources and, of course, increasing its efficiency and productivity, bilateral relations require the definition of new engines to accelerate the development of relations along the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership path. More serious and concentrated attention must be paid to:
Developing technological cooperation, especially in the field of new technologies.
Strengthening multilateral cooperation between Iran and China and countries capable of defining common interests with them.
More serious cooperation in development corridors (connectivity).
Strengthening cooperation in tourism as a manifestation of people-to-people relations.
Cooperation in the field of renewable energy and clean industries as an indicator of the two countries' movement towards a green economy.
These are among the most important topics whose various dimensions will be examined based on the planned schedule for this year's meeting.
I wish success to my Iranian and Chinese colleagues in realizing the goals of this year's conference, and I hope our Chinese guests have a pleasant stay in Iran alongside their participation in this intensive program.
Forum Details
This Dialogue Forum includes a series of specialized panels and workshops with the participation of officials, academics, and prominent Iranian and Chinese researchers.
The main themes of the upcoming Forum include:
Synergy of the global initiatives of the two countries' presidents.
Reviewing the geopolitical trends in West Asia.
New capacities for economic and technological cooperation, energy, investment, food security, and corridor connectivity.
The opening of the Historical Documents Exhibition of Iran-China Relations, specialized sessions on transportation, tourism, and cultural dialogues are also important parts of this session.
Holding the third Iran-China Dialogue Forum is a key platform for exchanging specialized views, formulating operational roadmaps, and elevating the level of strategic partnership between Tehran and Beijing in regional and international fields.
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